Warrior - Jack Seely 's War Horse - The Horse the Germans Couldn't Kill

Warrior and General Jack Seely by Sir Alfred Munnings

Warrior, a bay thoroughbred gelding born in the Isle of Wight, 1908 was to become known as "The horse the Germans couldn't kill" during World War 1.

Warrior was ridden though all the major battlefields of the Western Front including; Ypres, the Somme, Passchendaele and Cambrai. On 30 March 1918, Jack Seely and Warrior stood at Moreuil Wood on the banks of the Avre river in northern France. Behind Warrior were 1,000 horses of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade who charged to victory stemming the German Spring Offensive of 1918.

Queen Mary with Warrior and Jack Seely

After the war Warrior went on to win the Lightweight race  Point-to-Point in the Isle of Wight. He died in 1941, the following is his obituary from The Times newspaper;

"My Horse Warrior"

DEATH OF A WELL-KNOWN CHARGER

"Warrior, Lord Mottistone's old charger, has died at Mottistone Manor, in the Isle of Wight. His age was 32. The severe weather of the last two winters has affected his health , and Lord Mottistone regretfully decided to have the horsepainlessly destroyed.

Lord Mottistone told his story in "My Horse Warrior," which he published in 1934. Bred form his life-long owner from a thoroughbred mare named Cinderella, Warrior became a good-looking, powerful bay standing 15.2. Lord Mottistone took him to France as part of the orginal Expeditionary Force in August, 1914. He was soon in retreat from Mons with the G.H.Q. horses. At the Marne and again at the first battle of Ypres he was often ridden by the Commander-in-Chief, Sir John French.

When Lieutenant-Colonel John Seely, as he then was, was apointed early in 1915 to Comand the Canadian Cavalry Brigade he returned to England with Warrior to complete the training of his new command. After that interlude the horse served continuously on the Western Front till Christmas Day, 1918. Twice he was buried by the bursting of big shells on soft ground, but he was never seriously wounded. The Canadians, all of whom held Warrior in great affection, called him, "The horse the Germans couldn't kill." His owner afterwards said, "His escapes were quite wonderful.Again and again he survived when death seemed certain and, indeed, befell all his neighbours. It ws not all hazard; sometimes it was due to his intelligence. I have seen him, even when a shell burst within a few feet, stand still without a tremor - just turn his head and, unconcerned, look at the smoke of the burst."

After 1918 Warrior became the family hunter in the land of his birth the Isle of Wight. From time to time his owner gave news of his welfare to the readers of The Times. In his last letter on the subject, dated May 31st, 1938, Lord Mottistone announced that that morning they had cantered together over Mottistone Downs, "greatly rejoicing, our united ages being exactly 100 years." Warrior's portrait was painted by Mr A. J. Munnings several times - the first time in France with the Canadian Cavalry Brigade. His last ceremonial appearance was in the paradeof veteran war-horses the the Horse Show at Olympia seven years ago."

The Times, 5th April, 1941.

The book "My Horse Warrior" has now been re-published as "Warrior: The Amazing Story of a Real War Horse" with a forword by Peter O'Sullivan, the editor is Brough Scott, General Jack Seeley's grandson, it is illustrated by Sir Alfred Munnings.

Comments

[Margaret Marande]

A brilliant book. Solved all my Christmas presents!

[[email protected]]

I have a FIRST EDITION 1934 in good condition, without a dust jacket. Any offers?

Mike Willmott

SHREWSBURY WORDS

01743 366933

[Joey]

i loved the movie