War Horse: The True Story (W/T)

8 February 2012

War Horse: The True Story (W/T) is the extraordinary and deeply moving story of the million British horses who served in WWI. The true story is even more epic than the new Spielberg feature film. It is told using rarely seen archive and rare archive testimony from WWI veterans who worked with horses, and sequences with experts such as former RSPCA Chief Vet Mark Evans, historian Richard van Emden and British Army expert Dr David Kenyon, combined with the latest historical research.

The story begins with the mass call up of horses from every farm and country estate in the land. Brough Scott (racing commentator) tells the tale of his aristocratic grandfather General Jack Seely and his beloved horse Warrior, who would become the most famous horse of the war, renowned for his amazing courage and a mascot to the troops.

The British Army hoped its illustrious cavalry regiments would win a swift victory, but it would be years before they enjoyed their moment of glory. Instead, in a new era of mechanised trench warfare, it was the heavy horses transporting guns, ammunition and food to the front line troops who were most important. Tragically a quarter of a million of these horses died from shrapnel wounds and disease. But the deep bond that developed between man and horse helped both survive the hell of the Somme and Passchendaele. Behind the lines an army of vets worked miracles to treat injured horses and keep them going.

The finest hour of the cavalry came in spring 1918 when - led by the warhorse Warrior - they checked the German advance before going on to help win the war. But there was further heartache for the horses when the war came to an end. 85,000 of the oldest were sold for horse meat to feed POWs and the local population who were half starving. Half a million horses were sold to French farmers to help rebuild the countryside. Only 60,000 made it back to Britain. Six black horses that survived the war together would pull the body of the Unknown Warrior to its last resting place in Westminster Abbey. But the most famous war horse of all to return in glory was Warrior. His story, like the million other British horses who served, should never be forgotten.

Channel 4 Specialist Factual Commissioning Editor Julia Harrington says: "I love a reactive piece - and this story has just such great social history behind it. Testimony's film is a tear jerker but told with the real facts and incredible stills and archive. Look out for the horses having their heads bandaged behind the lines!"

Dir & Prod: George Pagliero

Exec: Steve Humphries

Prod Co: Testimony Films