A horse that served in World War One has been awarded a medal for his bravery during battle.
Warrior, who was owned and ridden by H&H racing columnist Brough Scott’s grandfather General Jack Seely, was honoured with the PDSA Dickin Medal earlier this month (2 September).
Brough accepted the honorary medal on behalf of the war horse.
Warrior was known as the “horse the Germans could not kill”.
During World War One the horse survived falling shells at the Battle of the Somme, was buried under debris, was stuck in the mud at Passchendaele and was twice trapped under the burning beams of his stables.
Brough said his family were “truly humbled” that Warrior had been given the award.
“It is with great pride and gratitude that I accept this Honorary PDSA Dickin Medal on behalf of Warrior and all the remarkable animals in World War I,” he added.
“Warrior’s story — which I grew up hearing at my mothers’ knee — was lost in time to the wider world. But now he rides again 100 years later, thanks to PDSA.
“My family and I are more than honoured that Warrior has been given this award on behalf of all animals that also served. I only wish Jack Seely were here today to witness Warrior receiving the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross.”
Filmmaker Steven Spielberg, director of the Oscar-nominated film War Horse said recognising Warrior was “a fitting and poignant tribute not only to this remarkable animal, but to all animals that served.”
The PDSA Dickin Medal was instituted by the charity’s founder Maria Dickin in 1943.
Since then 65 Dickin medals have been awarded to 29 dogs, 32 WW1 messenger pigeons, three horses (not including Warrior) and one cat.
For more information visit www.pdsa.org.uk/DickinMedal
