How horses helped win the war
WEEKEND EVENT WILL TAKE VISITORS BACK TO 1914
The story of how horses helped the First World War effort will be brought to life at Beamish Museum this weekend.
A total of 60 horses, from the cavalry to pack ponies, will feature in the Horses at War two-day event.
Visitors will be able to travel on horse-drawn vehicles, such as a double deck omnibus from the London Bus Museum, and see a horse-drawn field kitchen and horse and human ambulances.
Horses and soldiers will gather at a depot in the 1900s Town, as if ready to be sent to the front line. Visitors can sign up at the recruiting station and try samples from the 29th Field Kitchen.
Visitors will also see how horses contributed to the war effort on the Home Front with ploughing and other field work, and pit ponies will be hauling tubs in harness.
Chris Thompson, Beamthey ish’s Horse operations team leader, said: “Horses at War gives visitors the chance to discover the role of horses, ponies and mules in the First World War.
“It’s a unique opportunity to see vehicles in the settings would have been used.”
Tomorrow will see a display by The Brooke charity, which was founded by Dorothy Brooke to help ex-war horses.
One million horses and mules were sent to France in the First World War, but only about 60,000 returned home.
Many farmers and companies had horses, wagons and carts requisitioned to join the war effort.
Horses at War is the second event in the Great War Festival of Transport, and will be followed by Old King Coal, a celebration of the region’s mining heritage, which takes place from April 20-24.