4 – Warrior

Warrior is arguably the most famous of all the Allied horses that went to war in 1914. He was foaled on the Isle of Wight in 1908 and went to the Western Front with Winston Churchill’s great friend General Jack Seely. There he survived all imaginable disasters, was active in many famous battles, including those at the Somme and Ypres, and came back four years later.

Eight million other horses and mules did not. Returning with Jack Seely to his native Isle of Wight in 1918 he lived on until the grand old age of 33, even winning point-to-point years to the day that he had led the charge at Moreuil Wood. His obituary in the London Evening Standard in 1941 read ‘Horse Germans Could Not Kill’.

One hundred years later, in September 2014, Warrior was awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal, recognised as the animal’s Victoria Cross, and honouring all the animals that served in the Great War.

He is nominated by Janice McStea, from Folkstone, in Kent who says: “Although I do not live in the Isle of Wight, I have been a frequent visitor to the island and am delighted that Warrior will be recognised as one of the 100 Hero Horses.

“I have always counted horses as my favourite animal and although I no longer ride, I still maintain a keen interest in them. I work at a Veterinary practice and have for some years created a memorial board that commemorates animals that served in times of conflict and this year sold 280 felt purple poppies handmade by myself to our clients for charity.

“Our Practice also supported the erection of a granite animal memorial in Folkestone memorial garden in our town. Warrior has always been a feature of our memorial board and having read his story by Major Seely, visited his home at Mottistone Manor in the Isle of Wight, and also his statue at Carisbrooke Castle, I feel he deserves to be amongst the Hall of Fame”.