RIDING INTO WAR

In Room 15 my group goes and reads in Room 14. This term we have been reading RIDING INTO WAR. Here is the blurb-Billy may have been fresh off the farm, but he was a good rider and even better shot. When the world went to war in 1914, Kiwis rushed to enlist. For Billy and his best mate, Jack,joining the Mounted Rifles Regiment held the promise of adventure-little did the know half the battle would lie in keeping their horses alive aboard the troopship as they journeyed halfway around the world. In the storey the main characters were- Billy,Tui ( Tui is Billy's horse) Jack and Spirit (spirit is Jack's horse) there was also and man called Chopper with his horse Trojan. At home stays Alice Billy's best friend ( maybe his girlfriend) his parents and his mates. Billy and Jack think war will be a great adventure but when they get there it all changes. Sadly jack died in the storey and billy wrote this  to his parents-Dear MR AND Mrs Thomson, This is Jacks best mate, Billy, writing to you about your son. You've probably heard that he passed away on the 9th of August at Gallipoli. I wanted to write and let you know how bravely he died, trying to help his mates. We were fighting to hold the summit of Chunk Bair and the Turks were all around us. We ran out of ammunition and Jack leapt out of the trench to get some more. He was shot by a single bullet and died instantly. He didn't suffer at all.Our friend Chopper promised he would arrange a proper burial for Jack. I'm in hospital recovering now. I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for Jack. He was always so brave and cheerful despite everything. He made this horrible war beatable for me and i will always remember him.He loved you very much.My warmest wishes, Jacks best mate Billy Bowman
You can tell jack was a strong man Billy Bowman Lost a leg and this book was dedicated to the authors grandfather Trooper Thomas Mcgee of the wellington mounted rifles.
"lest we forget".

From Poppy