Remembering the Forgotten Legions: The Veteranization of British War Horses, 1850-1950

Abstract

My dissertation, entitled, "Remembering the Forgotten Legions: The Veteranization of British War Horses, 1850-1950," looks at the changing perceptions of war horses in the British military and society from nationalized brute resources to war veterans during the latter half of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century. I assert that the industrialization and mechanization of the British military and society precipitated a transformation in human-animal relations during the world wars. This technological supplantation of war horses created higher instances of soldier-animal bonding in warfare, which led to a reevaluation of the war horse's moral and veteran status in the military. Along with this change in soldier perceptions, the wartime activities of British animal welfare societies allowed for a discussion of veteran status and memorialization of war animals in mainstream British society during the interwar period. This discussion helped to establish in the minds of many at all levels of British society the contemporary sentiment that military service confers veteran status on war animals.