Troop horses stabled below deck on the “Star of Victoria.” Stan Mountjoy enlisted at age 25 in November 1914 and sailed on that ship in February 1915. The soldier in the middle is Tom Austin of Willaura, Western Victoria.ww1, world war 1, aif, stan mountjoy, 1915, a.i.f, stables, star of victoria

Stan Mountjoy. Veterinarian for the 8th. Light Horse Regiment. Photo by Stan Mountjoyphotoaif, a.i.f, ww1, world war 1, horses, troops, procession

Possibly an officer’s batman (perhaps Stan Mountjoy’s own?) with tent and officers’ boots and other equipment loaded onto a packsaddle. soldier, horse, packsaddle, aif, a.i.f, ww1, world war 1

Stan Mountjoy on a fine Thoroughbred in Gaza, Egypt. Mountjoy was a skilled rider who weighed less than 10 stone and had good success as a jockey, winning several cups at ANZAC race meetings. jockey, gaza, egypt, race, horse, light horse, ww1, world war 1

Post mortem? As a veterinary officer Stan Mountjoy became expert in the care and treatment of troop horses and his skill won him commendation from Army Command. The horse carcass, inside a perimeter fence suggests it died at a depot, not in combat. The rigors of the deserts often meant there were several hundred cases of sick horses and mules each week. post mortem, veterinary, horse, war, world war 1, ww1, soldiers, officers, light horse, vet