Warrior was the First World War 'horse that the Germans couldn't kill' is posthumously awarded top medal for animal gallantry

  •Warrior braved machine guns and falling shells at the Battle of the Somme.

  •His courage served as an inspiration to the troops he fought alongside.

  •The extraordinary actions of Warrior has drawn praise from Hollywood director Steven Spielberg, director of the film

  'War Horse'.

  On the battlefields of the First World War, he showed death-defying bravery and inspired thousands of soldiers. In the mud and

  blood of the trenches, he survived bullets, bombs and bayonets as well as twice escaping from burning buildings.

  But this war hero was not a serviceman. He was an unflappable steed called Warrior – dubbed ‘the horse the Germans couldn’t

  kill’.

  Warrior was born in 1908 and spent his whole life with his master dying when aged 33 in 1941. His master was Major General Seely unique and famous. He was one of Churchill’s favourite heroic figures and for two years, 1912 to 1914, sat with Churchill in the Cabinet in Parliament as the defence secretary. At that point he went back in to the army and spent four years fighting in WW1 in command of a Canadian Cavalry Regiment and in March 1918 made a cavalry charge against the German infantry during the battle of Moreuil Wood. A Few years before in 1900 at the Second Boer War he had been highly decorated with the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). The general saw a great deal of action much of it bloody, and always mounted on his greatly loved and totally trusted steed. They both returned home battle scarred with Warrior sustaining several wounds. General Seely was elevated to the Peerage becoming Lord Mottistone, and served for a further four years in Parliament. It was claimed that he had five lives for he did so much for long period and in many fields throughout his life which ended in 1947 when aged 79. In 1934 during Cowes Week on the Isle of Wight General Seely, mounted, took Warrior to meet Queen Mary a meet and greet all three enjoyed. In 1934 the General sat down and wrote an autobiography of his experiences, and in it although now sixteen years on, extolled the many virtues and strengths of Warrior’s involvement in war and peace. He stressed that in his opinion he considered that Warrior should be honoured for his services to the crown, suggesting a high one at that! Some teased him inferring that Warrior should receive a VC. Eventually the dear beast was honoured posthumously with the animal equivalent of the VC namely the PDSA DickinMedal and because it was some years ago that the recommend was associated with it was an honorary award, and that word appeared on the medal ribbon viz:

  For the full story and images see Warrior the First World War 'horse the Germans couldn't kill' as reported in the Daily Mail.

  The first image on the link above is of Major General Jack Seely, who later became Lord Mottistone, leaving his Isle of Wight home on Warrior. Looking at Warrior’s face, I’d reckon it would be wise to stay clear of him when action stations are sounded!

  Yesterday Warrior, who braved machine guns and shells on the first day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916, was posthumously awarded the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross in the conflict’s centenary year.

  The medal was accepted at the Imperial War Museum, at a special ceremony compered by Kate Adie OBE, by author and broadcaster Brough Scott, the grandson of Warrior’s owner General Jack Seely, who would later become Lord Mottistone.

  Warrior was represented at the award service by serving Army horse, Irish Draught Charger, Benjamin Buckram, from The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Woolwich. Further down the page (on the link above) is several images of Warrior and his rider Captain Nick Watson from the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery with his steed Benjamin Buckram wearing the Honorary PDSA Dickin Medal on his head.

  It is recommended you read the full story on the link including the many comments made