During WW1 one million horses were conscripted to take their part in the war. More than 6,000 horses were dragooned from farms across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. All of these plus thousands more from Britain and the US were shipped to the western front through Southampton docks. By the end of WW1 they had used over a million horses.
One of these horses that took this journey was Warrior, a five year old thoroughbred who was owned and trained on Brook Beach, Isle of Wight by General Jack Seely.
They both served in France with the Old Contemptibles throughout WW1. Warrior took part in the retreat from Mons and was wounded in the advance on the Aisne. He earned the name “the horse the Germans couldn’t kill”.
After the war, Warrior was bought by animal lover, actress and First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, Hilda Moore and although born in London she lived in Bannister Park, Southampton. Hilda like Warrior had served in France during WW1.
She donated Warrior to the local police on condition he was returned to her once a year to receive a bag of sugar. Warrior with his distinctive forehead was much loved by the city not only for his famous war record but also for his efficiency, intelligence, gentleness and noble character.
He was often seen around Southampton leading parades or on patrol and was popular with the public. Each year on the anniversary of his being presented to the local police he would visit Hilda in Archers Road to be rewarded with lumps of sugar, he was also known to enjoy a pint of beer.
He served with the police until his death on 22nd August 1935. At the time of his death he was one of the last police horses based in Southampton.
When Warrior died he was given a civic burial and laid to rest on the edge of the golf course at Southampton Sports Centre (His hoof was preserved and later used as an inkwell by the chief constable) where he remains surrounded by a horseshoe shaped flower bed.
On Tuesday 2nd September 2014 Warrior received the first ever Honorary PDSA Dickin Medal (animal VC) presented in the charity’s 97 year history. It was to ensure that all the animals that served on the front line during WW1 were duly recognised for their gallantry and devotion to duty.
To log your visit here and to get credit for the visit you MUST:
1: Find and photograph yourself, or your GPS, or travel partner (dog, trackable, human) in front of the memorial stone as mentioned above.
2: Whilst facing the memorial stone there is a telegraph pole to the right hand side. E-mail or message us with both the top and bottom numbers (the numbers in circles) on the pole.
3: Log your find. If your answer is wrong we will contact you and ask you to delete your log.
Please under no circumstances should you post the answer in your log and DO NOT POST photographs of the pole. These logs will be deleted
Virtual Rewards 2.0 - 2019/2020
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between June 4, 2019 and June 4, 2020. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 2.0 on the Geocaching Blog.