International War Animal Day commemorates the animals of all shapes and sizes that have served, suffered and died in human conflicts throughout history: from cavalry horses and military service dogs to carrier pigeons and camels.

The occasion holds particular significance for the Household Cavalry. Across centuries of military service, the Cavalry Blacks have taken part in some of the bloodiest battles in history and many have paid the ultimate price. The Household Cavalry Museum preserves a number of artefacts that honour the lives, courage, and sacrifice of some of the regiment’s most remarkable horses.

Captain Edward Kelly's mare

On display in our Waterloo cabinet is the tail hair of a mare ridden by Captain Edward Kelly of the 1st Life Guards at the Battle of Waterloo, June 18th 1815. She was reputedly Kelly’s favourite horse, and one of three who tragically perished under him at Waterloo. According to accounts, despite having taken a mortal wound to the skull from a French lance, the mare managed to carry Kelly back to the safety of British lines during one of the savage clashes between the British and French heavy cavalry, before succumbing to her wound. Kelly continued to fight on until a glancing blow from a cannonball ended his participation in the battle.

It is estimated that approximately 60,000 horses in total were present at the battle, spread between the British, French and Prussian armies, and that anywhere from 7-20,000 horses were killed in the course of the day’s fighting.

In contemporary accounts and regimental records, she is referred to simply as Captain Kelly’s mare. Unfortunately, as was often the case with cavalry mounts of the period - even much loved and distinguished ones - their names were not always formally recorded, or the records have not survived. So while her bravery is remembered, her name has been lost to history.

Freddy's Medal

On display in the Museum is a campaign medal from the Second Boer War (1899-1902) awarded to a particularly valiant horse of the 2nd Life Guards by the name of Freddy. Freddy was the only horse of his troop to return from South Africa: the Household Cavalry sent around 3000 horses to fight over the course of the war, most of whom tragically never came home.

Freddy fought in all the major engagements the Household Cavalry participated in including, the Relief of Kimberly and the Battles of Paaderberg and Transvaal. When he was presented to Queen Alexandra at Windsor Castle in 1900 and she heard the extent of what he’d endured, she insisted a campaign medal be fashioned in a way that he could wear it on his bridlery in recognition of his service.

A lengthy exchange of letters between Buckingham Palace and the War Office ensued as the Queen lobbied hard to ‘secure the gong’ for Freddy. The Commander-in-Chief at the time, Field Marshall the 1st Earl Roberts was adamant military animals did not receive campaign medals (somewhat hypocritically, as his own horse, Volonel, had been awarded one by Queen Victoria for military service in Afghanistan), but Alexandra refused to let the matter drop and after nine months, the War Office finally capitulated, and the following letter was despatched to the Commanding Officer of the 2nd Life Guards at Regent’s Park Barracks:

‘Buckingham Palace, May 24th 1903. Dear Colonel Anstruther Thompson, I am commanded by The Queen to forward the enclosed medal, which the Commander-in-Chief has given permission to be worn by the horse which Her Majesty saw at the Tournament, which was the only one of its fellows who returned safely from the South African War. Yours sincerely, Charlotte Knollys.

Freddy would wear the medal he had been bestowed at every parade and while on guard duty until he retired from active service in 1905, and he remained a part of the riding school in Windsor until he died in 1911. He was buried at Combermere Barracks with full military honours; his grave is still marked and commemorated by the regiment to this day.

Sefton's Bridle

The dangers faced by the Household Cavalry’s horses have not been confined to distant battlefields, but have also struck at the heart of London itself.

On July 20th 1982, the Blues and Royals were travelling to Horse Guards for the Changing of the Queen's Life Guard, when the IRA (Irish Republican Army) detonated a car bomb along their route near the corner of Hyde Park. Four men and seven horses were killed in the explosion and several others were seriously injured.

The bridle and hoof displayed here belong to Sefton, one of our most famed horses in recent history. Sefton was caught in the blast and suffered 32 injuries, every one potentially fatal. After eight hours of surgery (a record in British veterinary terms at the time), he was given a 50/50 chance of survival. He made a full recovery, returning to active service with the Household Cavalry in October 1982, remaining with the regiment until his retirement in 1984, passing away in 1993 aged 30, as a result of health complications related to his injuries.

As a result of his experiences, Sefton became the face of a major campaign to raise funds and awareness for equine care and treatment: the money raised was sufficient to build a new equine care wing at the Royal Veterinary College, appropriately called, the Sefton Wing.