Midnight’s Last Charge

Description

Limited Edition – 500

Lieutenant Guy Haydon and his magnificent black mare Midnight, came from the property “Bloomfield” in the Hunter Valley, NSW and joined the12th Light Horse Regiment in 1915. While the Australian Light Horse were training in the Egyptian desert, they were chosen to represent Australia against the British in a friendly equestrian competition and the “Bloomfield Mare” won the Sprint Race, Flag Race and Equitation Test.

Guy Haydon was parted from his beloved black mare when he was sent to fight at Gallipoli. When he returned to Egypt he was allocated another horse. But no horse could replace Midnight, and he searched for weeks amongst the thousands of army horses, until he found her allocated to another Regiment. Negotiations between the Commanding Officers of both regiments to swap horses, soon reunited Lieutenant Haydon and Midnight. During the failed second battle for Gaza, Midnight remained continuously under saddle for seven days. A testament to the endurance and stamina of this wonderful horse, as well as to the care she received from Haydon. Lieutenant Guy Haydon and Midnight served together until sunset on the 31st of October 1917 when the 4th and 12th Regiments of Australian Light Horse charged the Turkish stronghold of Beersheba.

Lieutenant Haydon led his men riding Midnight, and was one of the first to reach the Turkish trenches outside the town. As Midnight leaped the trench a Turkish bullet passed up through her body, through the saddle and up into her rider’s body where it lodged in his back beside his spine. Midnight was mortally wounded but while Lieutenant Guy Haydon survived, he was incapacitated and returned to Australia. He died some years later, his life tragically shortened by his injuries. (“Spur” OFFICIAL AUSTRALIAN LIGHT HORSE ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE 15TH EDITION, April 1998 p29)