VIRTUAL CALENDAR 2022
You can make a nomination for inclusion by emailing susan@thewarhorsememorial.org. Please provide a backstory and picture(s).
JANUARY – Cotebrook Loch Anna, three times National Champion Shire, who is proudly wearing her purple poppies. She is pictured with Alistair King who, with his wife Janet, run Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre, near Tarporley, in Cheshire.
FEBRUARY – COLIN, A 16-YEAR-OLD DONKEY FROM DERBYSHIRE, WHO HAS HIS OWN COLUMN IN ASPIRE MAGAZINE. DONKEYS HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF SERVICE IN WAR.
MARCH – PATRICK, NAMED BECAUSE HE WAS BORN ON ST PATRICK'S DAY, AND WHO WORKS AS A THERAPY PONY IN HIS NATIVE SOUTH-WEST
APRIL – BLUE BAR COCK PIGEON No 139, AWARDED THE DICKIN MEDAL FOR GALLANTRY FOR FLIGHT THROUGH SEVERE TROPICAL STORM NEAR MADANG, NEW GUINEA IN 1945 TO DELIVER A LIFE-SAVING MESSAGE. IT COVERED 40 MILES IN UNDER AN HOUR.
MAY – UNLIKELY AS IT MAY SEEM, POODLES WERE USED BY THE ARMED FORCES DURING WORLD WAR ONE. ALTHOUGH NEVER SENT OVERSEAS, THEY HELPED GUARD MILITARY INSTALLATIONS IN THE UK. THE REASON BEING THAT THEY WERE VERY TRAINABLE DUE TO THEIR BACKGROUND OF ONCE BEING A GUNDOG. HERE IS A VERY DOMESTICATED POPPY DAISY, A TOY POODLE FROM SURREY, WITH HER COMPANION MONTY PEBBLES, A BLEMADOO.
JUNE – RESCUE DONKEYS GLENDON, LINCOLN AND HORACE.
JULY – NOAH, A HANDSOME SALUKI WHO LIVES IN OLD WINDSOR.THE BREED.ALSO KNOWN AS A PERSIAN GREYHOUND, TRACES BACK 5,000 YEARS. THEY WERE ESTABLISHED IN THE UK WHEN SOLDIERS WHO FOUGHT IN THE MIDDLE EAST RETURNED WITH THEM AFTER THE FIRST WORLD WAR.
SEPTEMBER: Sandy, the only horse to return to his homeland of Australia after serving in World War One. His country sent 136,000 horses overseas to be used by the Australian, British and Indian armed forces. Sandy, a Waler, belonged to Major General Sir William Bridges who was killed in battle at Gallipoli. A gentle bay standing 16 hands high, he was the Major’s favourite charger and it was his dying wish to have his beloved horse returned home to Australia to enjoy a long and happy retirement. Sandy joins our 100 Hero Horses.
AUGUST – THIS FOX CUB PICTURED IN 1918 AT HUMIERES AIRPORT, ST POI, FRANCE, IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN THE MASCOT OF RAF No 32 SQUADRON.
OCTOBER – Brigadier and Commander, the pride of the Hook Norton Brewery Company in Oxfordshire. Two of three heavy horses delivering beer to the Cotswolds in traditional style. When not working they live in purpose-built stables accompanied by 18 acres of rolling countryside for them to graze at their leisure.
NOVEMBER – Ruby, a young Lurcher, is living at Raystede Centre For Animal Welfare in East Sussex while waiting for find a new home. Click picture to go to Raystede's website
DECEMBER: Petra is attracting attention at Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens in Oxfordshire where she was born. The wild Bactrian Camel is classified as critically endangered and believed to be one of the world’s rarest and largest mammals.