Violet Whitaker, a Fraser Coast resident and president of the 5th Light Horse Regiment in Hervey Bay, has produced a short film about wild horses from K'gari (formerly Fraser Island) that were used during World War I. These horses, descendants of Clydesdale breeds introduced to bolster the Indian Army's horse supply and later interbred with thoroughbreds, were chosen for their light frames and broad hooves suitable for desert environments. Over 39,000 such horses from Australia, including those from K'gari, were sent to the Middle East between 1914 and 1916; however, the exact number taken from K'gari is unknown. The film will be shown in select cinemas later this month.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-10,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
In short:
A Fraser Coast resident has created a short film focused on the wild horses from K'gari, formerly Fraser Island, that were sent to Middle East during World War I.
The breed was chosen by the military for its light frame and unique hoof pattern.
What's next?
The film will be screened at select cinemas later this month.
For as long as she can remember, Violet Whitaker has been passionate about horses.
asserted
Whitaker → create → horses
As president of the 5th Light Horse Regiment in Hervey Bay, about 280 kilometres north of Brisbane, her focus is preserving the region's equine history for future generations.
asserted
focus → preserve → generations
When she learnt some of the horses on K'gari, formerly Fraser Island, were involved in Australia's military efforts during World War I, she knew it was the perfect backdrop for a short film.
asserted
it → learn → film
"[It's an] insight into the intimate bond between war horses and their riders," Ms Whitaker said.
asserted
Whitaker → say → horses
From wild brumby to war steed
Clydesdale horses were introduced to K'gari and bred to bolster the Indian Army's steed supply in the late 1800s, according to Queensland's Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI).
uncertain
horses → introduce → Environment
Loggers also used the herd during this time to haul timber across the island.
asserted
Loggers → use → island
Maryborough RSL sub-branch president Christopher Nelson said the Clydesdale breed worked best for these two purposes.
asserted
breed → say → purposes
"They were large, heavily boned and very muscular," he said.
asserted
he → say → ?
Mr Nelson said Arabic thoroughbreds were later brought to the island to meet the growing demands for horses needed for the Boer War.
asserted
thoroughbreds → say → War
The leftover stock eventually interbred to create the brumby population, which were considered ideal creatures for World War I.
"[They had] broad hooves which were beneficial for desert environments, and light-muscled which would have given them manoeuvrability," Mr Nelson said.
asserted
Nelson → interbreed → manoeuvrability
On the frontlines
Australia sent more than 120,000 horses overseas during the war.
asserted
Australia → send → war
Those taken from K'gari were among the 39,000 sent to the Middle East between 1914 and 1916, according to the Australian War Memorial.
But the total number taken from the island was not known, Mr Nelson said.
uncertain
Nelson → take → island
After leaving the island, the horses were sent for training at military camps across Australia.
asserted
horses → leave → Australia
Mr Nelson said the process involved "breaking in" the horses to feel comfortable with different tasks, including wearing a saddle or hearing loud explosions.
asserted
process → say → explosions
"Because of their strength they were used to pull artillery, they sourced water and carried soldiers into conflict," he said.
asserted
he → use → conflict
Military historian Jean Bou said after the training, handlers transferred the horses to Australian ports to be shipped to Egypt and Palestine.
asserted
handlers → say → Egypt
Dr Bou said the horses needed about six months to acclimatise to their new surroundings.
asserted
horses → say → surroundings
"They had a long period of getting used to the new climate, whatever the local food sources were and then exercised to make sure their fitness was sufficient," he said.
asserted
he → have → climate
Most of the horses that Australia exported died during the war, but Dr Bou said the surviving horses faced different fates.
asserted
horses → export → fates
"The older horses were destroyed and the younger horses were absorbed into the imperial remount system in the Middle East," he said.
asserted
he → destroy → East
Only one horse, Major General Sir William Bridges's charge named Sandy, returned to home soil in Sydney.
asserted
horse → name → Sydney
"He lived a life of luxury, in a paddock, well fed, well attended to, and he was retired and he was famous," Mr Nelson said.
"
asserted
Nelson → live → paddock
I think he got a lot of attention by the early newspapers and by photographers and everything else.
asserted
he → think → photographers
"
From the horse's eye
The Forgotten Horses of Fraser (K'gari), which Ms Whitaker wrote and filmed on Queensland's Fraser Coast, follows the fictitious journey of a brumby from the island chosen to be one of thousands of steeds to serve in the Middle East.
asserted
Whitaker → write → East
The filmmaker said viewers would experience the war from a unique perspective.
asserted
viewers → say → perspective
"It will be narrated by a horse, to show the huge sacrifice horses did for the war," she said.
asserted
she → narrate → war
The project was created over nearly 12 months on a "shoestring budget" of $20,000 from community donations and Ms Whitaker's savings.
asserted
project → create → donations
She said the ongoing support from residents was "overwhelming".
asserted
support → say → residents
Mr Nelson said the film, in its final post-production, encapsulated the "strong attachment" between a rider and their mount.
asserted
film → say → rider
"They were your partner, your war comrade, your friend and lifesaver," he said.
asserted
he → say → ?
The 40-minute film will have a limited release at select cinemas across the Fraser Coast later this month.
asserted
film → have → Coast
The Aporia