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  • Bill the Bastard

  • The Story of Australia's Greatest War Horse
  • By: Roland Perry
  • Narrated by: David Tredinnick
  • Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (228 ratings)

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Bill the Bastard

By: Roland Perry
Narrated by: David Tredinnick
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Publisher's Summary

Bill was massive. He had power, intelligence, and unmatched courage. In performance and character he stood above all the other 200,000 Australian horses sent to the Middle East in the Great War. But as war horses go he had one serious problem. No one could ride him but one man - Major Michael Shanahan. Some even thought Bill took a sneering pleasure in watching would-be riders hit the dust.

Bill the Bastard is the remarkable tale of a bond between a determined trooper and his stoic but cantankerous mount. They fought together. They depended on each other for their survival. And when the chips were down, Bill's heroic efforts and exceptional instincts in battle saved the lives of Shanahan and four of his men.

By September 1918, "Bill the Bastard" was known by the entire Light Horse force, who used his name not as an insult, but as a term of endearment. Bill had become a legend, a symbol of the courage and unbreakable will of the Anzac mounted force. There was no other horse like Bill the Bastard.

©2012 Roland Perry (P)2013 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about Bill the Bastard

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An Aussie hero

A well researched and written book bring back to life Australian legends of bygone days.

Roland Perry again demonstrates his great skills as a writer and historian.

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Tremendous Story

This is a great read!!. A Well written and easy read. It easily moves thru the personal story of Bill the Bastard and the people in his orbit to the war to end all wars. Sympathetically read and performed. Highly recommended

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Extraordinary war horse hero

An incredible story about Australian WW1 hero horse …narrator does a cracking job bringing the story alive

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Go Bill!

A really lovely story of respect and commitment by both man and animal, despite horrible circumstances they endured

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Great story

A book about a horse with a mind of its own. Read with gusto by David. Quite enjoyed it.
Anzac history needs to be remembered and stories like Bill the Bastard will keep them alive .

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Wonderful story. Great narration

If ever I get to see Bill and Shanahan's Statue will fondly remember their many exploits.

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Seminal Australian story


Brilliant Australian story about the allegiance between man and beast which has defined the development of this land .

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Amazing Read

Amazingly written and heartbreaking at the same time, can tell it was written by and old Aussie bloke at times, but a true to heart story of the legendary Australian War Horse

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fantastic, hooked from the start

great book and read out so well , easy to listen to, would definitely recommend!

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Really worth the listen

So with listening to this book! Not only a great story but gives the listener an unsure to a part of history of the war from the troopers side. Had to take some deep breaths when they were disposing of the horses though and saddened to know that’s what happens to them.
Highly recommend this book!

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.