Horses have served the Armed Forces of Britain for thousands of years in one capacity or another. Tens of thousands were commandeered during WWI (1914-1918) – to act as cavalry and/or artillary horses – or horses to shift heavy weights or pull ambulances containing wounded soldiers. When horses were hurt (and not automatically shot) they were transported in the type of conveyance pictured above – but I think this might have been rare (new horses were acquired quicker than wounded horses could heal). At the end of WWI, many thousands of conscripted horses were gathered on the beaches of France – after serving the UK loyally (even participating in cavalry charges against machine-guns) – and instead of being shipped back to England and discharged to their owners, the UK government (probably Churchill) ordered them “shot”. The bullet was cheaper than the shipping and compensation owned. Of course, although some horses were used in WWII (1939-1945) – technology had improved dramatically and horses were not required as they had been two-decades previously. From a compassionate perspective – it would be good to think that all British horses had access to above level of care (where they were “supported” whilst being transported) – but reality is not built upon fairy-tales. Only the lucky few (probably the horses of high-up Officers) were subject to this kind of care. This British Army Ambulance appears to have the battle honour of “Normandy”! We saw this exhibit at the Rural Life Living Museum during our visit on May 28th, 2026. If you watch the British Household Cavalry – dating back to the English Civil Wars and perhaps earlier – some troopers are carrying “axes”. Although these axes might have been used on the Medieval battlefield – they became used by the cavalty “doctors” to despatch severely wounded horses hurt during cavalry charges. Limbs blown-off, innards hanging out (sometimes entagled round the legs), heads partly blown away, and large chunks of the body missing, etc. Believe or not, many of these horses would survive such terrible injuries – and nobly attempt to rise one more time and take their place in the line.
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 