Animal

Archive, 2 October 1925: more than 100,000 horses killed or wounded in the first world war


The total casualties as distinct from accidental injuries in horses and mules on the Western Front during the Great War was 120,886. Of this number 178 were killed and 1,868 wounded by gas, and 51,308 were killed and 67,532 wounded by gunshot wounds.

These figures (says the War Office) are revealed for the first time in the official history of the Veterinary Services in the Great War, which has just been published under the editorship of Major General Sir LJ Blenkinsop, Colonel Commandant of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, and Lieutenant Colonel JW Rainey. Naturally many preventive measures were adopted — such as improved stabling and the of lines of communication, the distribution of animals in smaller groups, and the use of horse respirators, and so far as accidental injuries were concerned the “relative freedom of British Army animals during the war from inefficiency due to preventable injuries” affords the best evidence of the care that was taken by the military authorities.

Horse Ambulances
“Experience in manoeuvres before the war had shown the need for horse ambulances,” we are told. “The evidence in favour of the provision of these vehicles became overwhelming during the early months of the war.” The need was temporarily met when possible by hire or purchase from the civil inhabitants, and later, in November, 1915, official approval was given for the issue of a light horse ambulance or “float” to each mobile veterinary section with an infantry division.

A question of hygienic interest is the clipping of animals. During the first winter the clipping of horses was left to the discretion of the officers commanding units in accordance with the practice prevailing during peace. Later mange began to give trouble, and compulsory clipping for all units was ordered. Conditions, however, differed on the fronts of the various armies. For instance, during the Somme Battle of 1916, where the surface was a quagmire, and there was no stabling or shelter of any sort in forward areas, clipping had to be abandoned as prejudicial to the health of the animals. This is a topic of animal management which caused more controversy than any other during the war.

A handsome tribute is paid to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty To Animals, which body, when war was declared, placed its resources in personnel and funds at the disposal of the Army Council and rendered great assistance in organising itself as a sort of recruiting agency for its own inspectors and other men who had special knowledge of horses.

The book is published by HM Stationery Office at £3.1s., and may be obtained through any bookseller



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