Yet was born a roan and could never belong

With horses of true colour: soldiers’ bays

So it was classed unwanted and turned away. 

A young boy found and fetched him home

An orphan child of colour now no longer alone

They grew together .. spirited and strong

Their hearts so true but their colour so wrong. 

As foal became horse, as boy became man

Songs of peace ended: sounds of battle began,

Soldiers rode forth hearts turned from home

Followed by a lad of colour on a horse of roan. 

In the greed of war and the darkest day

Who heeded colour? Who needed a bay?

A banner was given for the two to bear,

A flag of colours two thousand would share.

“Gallop with the wind: make our colours known

Forever, good friend, we’ll not be alone!

For they’re all with you in the Red, White & Blue

Our spirits ride together, My Gallant Roan!” 

All around them, the dead and dying lay

Beaten, bloodied soldiers: wounded, broken bays

They wept with thoughts turning to home and they died for the colours on that horse of roan. 

While bays went down it held it’s ground

Though scarred evermore by the battle’s sound

Yet death knows no colour and found its way

For death found the lad on a horse .. not a bay! 

‘Gallop with the wind’ came his dying moan

‘Though this time, good friend, you must go alone

But we’re with you in the Red, White and Blue,

Our spirits shall ride forever with a Gallant Roan!’

-by Maggie May Gordon

(From Maggie’s book A Salute to Out Soldiers)

Visit the Nyngan and District Museum. Make time to visit the local Museum to learn more about the history of Nyngan. The Museum is located in the Railway Station and is opened Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm.