Don't Forget the Four-Foots
THE YPRES TIMES
By Peter Shaw Baker (Author of Animal War Heroes).
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IT has been estimated that altogether some sixteen million animals took part in
the Wara figure that will surprise many, even those who saw for themselves
the endless stream of remounts plodding, day and night, up to the advance
area. Official statistics reveal that over 500,000 horses and mules paid the supreme
sacrifice with the British Forces alone. It is no exaggeration to say that the part
played by the animals was an important factor in the ultimate vicitory of the
Allied Forces. The power of an army as a striking weapon said the late Earl
Haig in one of his final despatches, depends on its mobility. Mobility depends
largely upon the fitness and adaptability of animals for army work."
Those who bore the brunt and burden of the day will readily call to mind the
way in which the dumb creatures responded to the call in the hour of need. Who
is there that cannot recall a picture of a pair of those grossly libelled creatures, the
mules, plodding on and on in front of a swaying general service wagon, doing work
that no man-made machine could ever accomplish It was their very stubbornness,
for which they are so often maligned, that kept them going till they dropped from
exhaustion, or were felled by enemy fire. And was there a single gunner in the
whole British Force who did not come to love his horses, and grieve as for a com
rade when they were parted from him? There were many other dumb creatures
too, who did their bit uncomplaininglydogs, pigeons, oxen, camels, elephants,
mice, canaries, even reindeer. Many a man will remember pausing for a moment
in the grim business of war, to glance in wonder at the lithe form of a messenger
dog as it bounded along, heedless of all the chaos and confusion, intent only on
its mission. And then, of course, there were the mascots; if the truth were but
known, there is probably more than one man in England to-day who owes his
sanity to those animal pals, whose cheerfulness no adversity or discomfort could
damp.
It is one of the primary objects of the Ypres League to keep alive the wonder
ful spirit of comradeship that was born on the battlefields of Flanders. It will,
therefore, perhaps interest members of the League to know what has become of
some of those other old comrades," members of the silent force," whose com
panionship and loyalty in the time of stress, although inarticulate was none the
less manifest.
Many who took part in the First Battle of Ypres will recollect how, during
that critical period, Sir John French rode amongst the troops, making impromptu
little speeches of encouragement, and there is no doubt the words he spoke went a
long way to put new hope into many a despairing heart. It may be remembered
by those to whom the words were addressed that Sir John was mounted on a
handsome bay thoroughbred. This horse, Warrior by name, is now living a life
of ease and contentment in the Isle of Wight. Warrior was not Sir John's own
charger, but was loaned to him by Major-General Seely (now Lord Mottistone).
The horse is twenty-three years old now, but is still so vigorous that Lord
Mottistone is able to ride him to hounds occasionally. Quite recently Lord
Mottistone wrote of him, this very morning I rode him over Mottistone
Downs. The gay old horse was quite fit and well, and it took me all my time to
hold him. But before we started to ride down the hill back to his stable, I
jumped off, threw the reins over his head, and lit a cigarette while I looked over
the sea. Warrior bent his head down and rubbed it against my cheek. I patted
his neck and he gave a whinny of pleasure. Such can friendship be between man
