Millions of horses were requisitioned by the Army in WW1 to serve alongside troops in France and Belgium. At the end of the war, most were sold off and few were repatriated.
They are creatures of habit and routine, well illustrated by this account of two who were fortunate enough not only to have survived the four years of the war, but who were also repatriated.
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Two horses, Jones and Joubert, of the Royal Horse Artillery where sent to the front in 1914. They were sub-section leaders and stayed together through German shot and shell fire. Despite being in the thick of the action for 4 years, they were among the few who returned home unharmed. When untacked at their Aldershot base in 1919 they walked to the stables and stalls they had occupied before the war. They were awarded campaign medals which they wore on their browbands and were later retired to the countryside. The Commander considered Jones to embody the spirit of the plucky light draught horse. A silver statue of Jones takes pride of place in the centre of the dining table of the Officer's Mess at the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and bronze copies are given to officers when they retire.
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Real war horses remembered