This artefact is a horse tail from the Sinai Palestine Campaign in World War I. The mounted kiwi soldiers who fought in that campaign shared the hardships and danger with their horses and became extremely close to them. Sadly when they returned the kiwis were not allowed to bring their horses, and rather than see them mistreated once they left, many chose to shoot them. This tail is almost certainly a reminder of a beloved horse who was tragically left behind when the war was won.
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