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THE WAR HORSE RIDE 2014
by Major P R L Hunter
formerly The Life Guards



Men and horses of The 1st Life Guards Squadron waiting to depart from Knightsbridge Barracks on 15th August 1914, for an ‘unknown destination’

I usually write an article every 20 years and recently helped organise the War Horse Ride 2014, the brainchild of Captain Geoffrey Pitts, formerly 17/21 Lancers. The plan was to commemorate the fighting withdrawal of the British 1st Cavalry Division at the beginning of the First World War by asking a serving or retired soldier from each cavalry regiment that took part to ride 100 miles south west from Maroilles to Néry, near Compiegne, just north of Paris. The whole campaign can be studied separately, but the ‘Retreat’ contained a number of significant actions and we helped commemorate three of them.

Starting last year, and with the support of our Royal Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, and Field Marshal Lord Guthrie, we gathered men and women and promises of horses, equipment and transport. Crucially important was the permission through the French Embassy to take 1914 rifles, blank ammunition and powder for the 13 pounder Quick Fire (QF) artillery piece, as well as the participation of two lieutenant colonels from the French Cavalry School at Saumur. Lt Col Bruno de Blois accompanied Major Anthony Tate, formerly The Life Guards, on the one week recce for the trip. He discovered he had visited the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards 30 years ago as a St Cyr cadet at the same time as one of the ride supporters, Lt Col Geoffrey Cardozo; an amusing lunch with supporter Laurent-Perrier Champagne’s Danny Borchert and the author ensued!

The Honourable Artillery Company’s Armoury House played a key role in providing a base to collect the hired Great War uniforms and saddlery, etc, and it was from here that the Ride set off on Monday 25th August 2014. The riders and horses then gathered together at Maroilles on the original route and spent 24 hours getting to know each other.

Simultaneously, the artillery team were detached to fire a salute during the centenary ceremony of the Battle of Le Cateau. This was held at the memorial to XV Brigade Royal Field Artillery and others who had died. This battle was the first great artillery engagement of the war and included the largest number of British troops involved in any battle since Waterloo. Le Cateau had never been planned as a 'set piece' battle, but only as a holding operation during the general withdrawal continuing along the whole front. The Batteries’ positions chosen, at short notice and in the dark of the night by the artillery commander, were much criticised later; his idea of close support for the infantry consisting of placing the guns in the front line among the trenches and on the forward slope of a hill. This soon became the object of German artillery concentrations from three sides.

During the battle, starting before dawn and lasting until the order to withdraw was given after 2pm, the Brigade suffered heavy losses to both men and materiel, and the artillery commander was wounded and taken prisoner. Of 23 officers serving in XV Brigade, 16, or about 70% of its strength, were killed. Casualties amongst other ranks were less severe at about 20%. The four batteries lost 280 horses killed and XV Brigade emerged from the battle with only four subalterns and eight of the 18 guns with which it had started the day. Three VCs were awarded to members of the group, along with six DSOs and two DCMs. Many others deserved awards on that day, but were never recognised due to the lack of senior officers remaining alive to make the necessary recommendations after the battle.

Our interest in this battle was that it was where Lieutenant (later Brigadier) A G Hewson, the father of David Hewson, formerly The Blues and Royals (and Adjutant, 1970-71), had fought his first battle as a subaltern. The salute during the centenary commemoration was fired from approximately the same position occupied by the 23 year old Arthur Hewson in 1914.

On Tuesday 27th August, the War Horse Ride set off in a south westerly direction using small roads and tracks. Riding in half sections, the 26 riders, artillery piece, limber and 1914 Army Service Corps General Service horse-drawn wagon, provided a magnificent sight.

To begin with, the weather was not especially kind, although it was more comfortable riding in the mist than in blazing sunshine. Lt Col Frederic Florek, French Army, provided invaluable assistance on the ride, especially when talking to host farmers about staying in their fields and in assuaging the Gendarmerie when the ride was pulled over for riding fully armed and with artillery through a French township!

By Thursday 28th August, the ride had arrived at Moÿ de l’Aisne to take part in a huge commemoration by 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales’s) of the cavalry charge by 12th Lancers against the Prussian 1st and 2nd Garde Dragoner exactly 100 years’ ago. A simulated charge over the same ground went relatively well, although two members were run away with, one being deposited in a ditch - probably much like the original action! There were spectators, the East Midlands BBC filmed from a good vantage point on high ground, and the French and British organisers provided a great series of festivities. It is sad to note that this was probably the last great event for the 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales’s) pending amalgamation with the Queen's Royal Lancers to form a single regiment, The Royal Lancers, in 2015; so many fine Regiments being combined into one.

Sleeping in period tents and barns and cooking over open fires, the Ride and its dismounted support troop continued south west past Compiègne - famous as the scene of the Armistice surrender in 1918 and the French surrender to the Germans in 1940. (When the Germans withdrew in 1944, they razed the area to the ground and took the famous railway carriage to Berlin, where it was sadly later destroyed by Allied bombing).

About a quarter of those taking part were retired volunteers from the Household Cavalry, and Captain Chris Bunyan, formerly The Life Guards, who had flown from Turkey, re-discovered he was a good organiser and great chef for the ride. Captain Barry Fitzgerald, who had seen service in The Life Guards and RMP, was initially the commissariat officer. The riding trio were Major Anthony Tate riding as a 1st Life Guard, ex WO1 Gary Pilchowski as a Royal Horse Guard, and Trumpeter Kate Miller as a 2nd Life Guard. Trumpeter Miller, who is serving with The Life Guards Band, carried a short bugle of the period for playing the Last Post and Reveille. (see the BBC interview with Trumpeter Miller at: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29005740)

Another key participant was Corporal of Horse Eade, formerly The Life Guards, who used his hunter judging and whipping-in skills to go to Worcestershire and try out the horses generously lent by Diana Johnson, Michael Markham, and others. Dean Cox, formerly The Blues and Royals, joined us briefly from the mounted branch of The Metropolitan Police.

Much historical research was done for us by HAC Historian, James Drabble. Mr Jeff McGoldrick, formerly The Life Guards, took this and prepared historical notes about the campaign to illuminate the route along the way. He also provided great help to the recce some weeks before, travelling with his family Tracey and Elle. Corporal of Horse Alan Gill, formerly The Life Guards, turned up from his home far away in France to watch and support the Ride as did hundreds of the general public.

At Néry, just south of Compiègne, the Royal Horse Artillery led in the commemoration of those actions by the British 1st Cavalry Brigade, which included 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays), 5th Dragoon Guards, 11th Hussars, and L Battery, Royal Horse Artillery (later supported by elements of the 4th Cavalry Brigade: the Household Cavalry Composite Regiment, I Battery, Royal Horse Artillery and the 1st Middlesex Regiment from 19th Brigade).

As a historical side note, prior to the outbreak of war in August 1914, 16 regular line cavalry regiments had been earmarked for service with the British Expeditionary Force, with a further composite regiment formed with a squadron from each of the three Household Cavalry regiments: the 1st Life Guards, the 2nd Life Guards, and the Royal Horse Guards. On mobilization, this Household Cavalry Composite Regiment, under the command of Lt Col E B Cook MVO, was assigned to the 4th Cavalry Brigade for service with 1st Cavalry Division. The regiment formed-up at Knightsbridge Barracks on 15th August 1914, departing for an ‘unknown destination’. By the afternoon of the following day, both men and horses were disembarking from SS Thespis at the docks in Le Havre.

The action at Néry began at 05:40 hours on 1st September 1914 with an artillery engagement between L Battery, Royal Horse Artillery and elements of the German 4th Cavalry Division. By the end of the morning, the Battery was left with one gun firing and the ad hoc crew of Battery Second in Command, Captain Bradbury, Battery Sergeant Major Dorrell, and Sergeant Nelson, who were all subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross. Flanking attacks by the cavalry regiments of the Brigade drove off the Germans, captured eight of their guns and held up the German Army’s advance for some time, causing great confusion as to the intentions of the British Expeditionary Force. The Battery was later renamed L (Néry) Battery in honour of its performance in this and other actions.

The salute was taken by the Master Gunner, General Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman GBE, KCB and a senior French officer. In a spirit of reconciliation, the senior artillery commander from the German Army and several of his staff were also present.

A separate rank past of the Ride took place at Néry, where the salute was taken by Lord Norrie, son of Lt General Lord (Charles) Norrie GCMG, GCVO, CB, DSO, MC* , who fought in the battle as 3 Troop Leader in C Squadron of the 11th Hussars (he later became Governor General of New Zealand). Other prominent cavalrymen present were Major General Nick Ansell, whose grandfather, Lt Col George Ansell, was killed in the battle leading a mounted counter attack whilst commanding the 5th Dragoon Guards. Brigadier Georgie Powell represented the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays). The only Household Cavalry casualty in the battle was Lieutenant Percy Heath, Royal Horse Guards, who died on 4th September from wounds received at Néry while leading his troop against the German 18th Dragoons near the sugar factory. He was aged 26 and is buried nearby.

These salutes were followed by an open field service and a 13 pounder gun salute and BBC News filmed the various events, including a football match between British and German soldiers - the British won this time!

The sun shone, burning off the early morning mist exactly as it had 100 years’ before and all took some moments for reflection and remembrance of those brave men and events so long ago.

A sum of over £12,000 was raised for The Not Forgotten Association. See website for more information about The Ride: warhorseride2014.com


The War Horse Ride passing through French countryside near Néry where three Victoria Crosses
were won on 1st September 1914 (photo by Lynne Moore)

© Crown Copyright