Genealogy Forum UK

Over 8 million horses were killed on all sides during World War One.

I would have guessed a lot, but not quite that many.

Soem books claim over 9,500,000.

My wife's Grandad was asked about the worst things he saw or experienced in WW1.

He was involved in dozens of battles and was on the front line for nearly 5 years.

Out of all that, he said the thing that stuck in his mind the most was having to shoot his own horses at the end of the war.

He had many horses killed over the years on the front but that was the same as one of your mates getting shot.

It was part of war and sad but unavoidable.

Shooting his horses, because the government did not want to transport them back, was a senseless act.

The Drivers begged for their mounts and wanted to leave them with the French and German farmers who needed them after the hostilities had finished.

But the Army refused any logical request and, under military orders, they had not choice.

So for months they lived and slept with the animals and spent countless hours ensuring they were healthy and able to carry out their tasks.

And then they had to shoot them.

Stupid.

Mark, that's apalling. But somehow it doesn't suprise me, I mean look how they treated people who were shell shocked. I know they didn't understand what we call post traumatic stress, but they knew most of those soldiers weren't cowards or ordinary deserters!