Sources and References
Books, military records, magazines, photos, films, and newspapers were all consulted during research for the BrookeUSA Horse Heroes site. The list here is not a complete list of every source used, but represents the major sources of information for the site. Specific source notes are provided to indicate general content and degree to which that source was relevant to the Horse Heroes topic.
Although online citations are provided, it must be expected that gradually these links will cease to work as technology and digital media evolve. Performing a new search using the title of the item is recommended if the link is not functional.
Numerous organizational sources provided assistance, but special thanks is due to James Tobias, Historical Resources Branch and Dr. Andrew Birtle, Writer in Residence, both at the U.S. Army Center of Military History, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C..
BrookeUSA wishes to express its gratitude to Jo Ellen Hayden, B.A., M.A., M.S., BrookeUSA Horse Heroes Special Project Volunteer, for researching and authoring this site, and to Catherine Bishop for proofreading the entire site.
Organization |
City |
State |
Dehner & Company | Omaha | NE |
Fasig-Tipton Company, Inc. | Lexington | KY |
International Museum of the Horse | Lexington | KY |
Keeneland Library | Lexington | KY |
Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs | Frankfort | KY |
Library of Congress of the United States | Washington | DC |
Museum of the Horse Soldier | Tucson | AZ |
National Archives of the United States | College Park | MD |
National World War I Museum and Memorial | Kansas City | MO |
Third Cavalry Museum | Ft. Hood | TX |
U.S. Army Center of Military History | Washington | DC |
U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center | Carlisle | PA |
U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum | Ft. Lee | VA |
U.S. Army Quartermaster School | Ft. Lee | VA |
U.S. Army Transportation Museum | Ft. Eustis | VA |
U.S. Army Transportation School | Ft. Lee | VA |
U.S. Cavalry Museum | Fort Riley | KS |
Books
There are relatively few contemporary accounts of the war that focus on horses and mules, but they are valuable because they reflect the thoughts of the soldiers at the time. These were used extensively to provide insight into the actual lives and conditions of the animals. Later books provide comprehensive analysis of numbers and costs as well as the political climate, state of veterinary medicine, and overall assessment of battlefield life.
Title | National Focus | Author | Publisher | Date | Notes |
Horses Were More Valuable Than Men - WW1 Memoirs | England | Bassett, Charles | Stefan R. Woroniecki, London | 2014 | war diary of British trooper assigned to horse care in Transport unit |
Animal Heroes of the Great War | US | Baynes, Ernest Harold | Macmillan Company | 1927 | Regarded as the most contemporary account on the subject |
For Love of Horses: Diaries of Mrs Geoffrey Brooke | Intl | Brooke, Dorothy, ed by Glenda Spooner | The Brooke Hospital For Animals, London | 1960 | first-person account of Dorothy Brooke's work in Cairo, 1930-1955 |
The War Horses: The Tragic Fate of a Million Horses Sacrificed in the First World War | England | Butler, Simon | Halsgrove, Somerset, UK | 2011 | Text with layout that incorporates many photos; extensive bibliography |
The U.S. Cavalry Horse | US | Carter, General William H. | The Lyons Press, Guilford, Connecticut | 2003 | first published in 1895, a detailed reflection of thoughts of that time |
The Mule in Military Service | England | Clayton, Anthony | The Book Guild, Ltd., Kibworth, Leicestershire | 2017 | Mules in the British Army, 19th and 20th centuries. |
Animals in War | England | Cooper, Jilly | Lyons Press, Guilford, Connecticut | 2002 | brief volume covering dogs, horses, mules, etc. |
War Horse: A History of the Military Horse and Rider | US | DiMarco, Louis A. | Yardley, Pa.: Westholme Publishing | 2007 | Includes maps, iIllustrations, tables, notes, bibliography, and index |
Shavetails & Bell Sharps: The History of the U.S. Army Mule | US | Essin, Emmett M. | University of Nebraska Press | 1997 | Mules in the U.S. Army, 1832-1956 |
Pershing's Crusaders: The American Soldier in World War I | US | Faulkner, Richard S. | University of Kansas Press, Lawrence | 2017 | Social history of the dougboys and their experiences in the Great War |
The Horse and the War | England | Galtrey, Captain Sidney | Country Life, London and Percheron Society of America, Chicago | 1918 | Section on British Remount by Brigadier-General T.R.F. Bate |
Warrior - The True Story of a Real War Horse | England | George, Isabel | Harper True Friend, London | 2014 | derivitive of original first person book by Jack Seeley |
Dorothy Brooke and the Fight to Save Cairo's Lost War Horses | Intl | Hayter-Menzies, Grant | Potomac Books/University of Nebraska Press | 2017 | In-depth account of the beginnings of the world's largest equine charity |
The Fourth Horseman: One Man's Mission To Wage The Great War In America | US | Koenig, Robert L. | Public Affairs/Perseus, New York | 2006 | true story of attempt to infect horses awaiting shipment to Europe with anthrax |
War Horse: Mounting the Cavalry with America's Finest Horses | US | Livingston, Phil & Roberts, Ed | Bright Sky Press, Albany, Texas | 2003 | Comprehensive history of the U.S. Remount Service |
Horse Mobilization | England | MacMunn, Lieut.-Colonel G.F., DSO | Firestep Editions, National Army Museum, UK | 1913 | reprint from The Army Review and Harrison and Sons, London by FireStep Editions |
American Military Horsemanship - the Military Seat of the United States Cavalry 1792 through 1944 | US | Ottevaere, James A. | Authorhouse, Bloomington, IN | 2005 | extremely comprehensive |
Diseases of the Horse | US | several | US Dept of Agriculture | 1923 | veterinary textbook |
Manual for Stable Sergeants | US | several | Mounted Service School, Ft. Riley, KS | 1917 | Diseases and injuries and their treatment |
The Horse Soldier, 1776-1943 : the United States Cavalryman-His Uniforms, Arms, Accoutrements, and Equipments | US | Steffen, Randy | University of Oklahoma Press, Norman | 1977 | extremely comprehensive |
United States Military Saddles 1812-1943 | US | Steffen, Randy | University of Oklahoma Press, Norman | 1973 | extremely comprehensive |
The Horse In War: Horses & Mules in the Allied Armies During the First World War, 1914-1918 | Canada | Tamblyn, D. S. | Leonaur, Canada | 2011 | First person account with notes on numerous individual horses |
The Twilight of the U.S. Cavalry: Life in the Old Army, 1917-1942 | US | Truscott, Lucian K. Jr. | University Press of Kansas | 1988 | History of the last years of the U.S. Army Cavalry |
Notes on Horse Management Part 3 | England | Veterinary Dept, General Staff, War Office | Firestep Editions, National Army Museum, UK | 1919 | Update with particular emphasis on grooming |
Notes on Horse Management Parts 1 & 2 | England | Veterinary Dept, General Staff, War Office | Firestep Editions, National Army Museum, UK | 1916 | British Cavalry manual on feeding, stable management, shoeing, clipping, and more |
Theirs Not To Reason Why: Horsing the British Army 1875-1925 | England | Winton, Graham | Helion and Company Ltd., Solihull, West Midlands, England | 2013 | extremely comprehensive |
Internet Sources
The internet was useful to locate photographs, organizations, published material from newspapers and magazines that had been archived, and museums.
Resource | Web Address | National Focus | Notes |
British Army Museum, London, England | https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/horse-heroes | England | Online museum exhibit |
Canadian War Museum, Ottowa, Ontario, Canada | http://www.warmuseum.ca/blog/war-museum-artifacts-bring-authenticity-to-war-horse/ | Canada | Online museum exhibit |
Cob+Co Museum, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | cobbandco.qm.qld.gov.au-Events+and+Exhibitions-Exhibitions-2015-03-Horse+in+War#.WMSEpzGV7nN | Australia | Online museum exhibit |
International Museum of the Horse, Lexington, Kentucky | http://www.imh.org/exhibits/online/draft-horse-in-america/horse-trench-warfare/ | Intl | Online museum exhibit |
Museum of the Horse Soldier, Tuscon, Arizona | http://museumofthehorsesoldier.com/ | US | Online museum exhibit |
National World War I Museum and Memorial, Kansas City, Missouri | https://www.theworldwar.org/ | US | Online museum exhibit |
US Cavalry Museum, Ft. Riley Kansas | http://www.riley.army.mil/About-Us/Museums/ | US | Online museum exhibit |
Brooke USA | https://www.brookeusa.org | Intl | International equine charity |
Society of the Military Horse | https://www.militaryhorse.org/ | US | Organization devoted to history of military horse usage |
The Army Veterinary Service During the Great War, WW1 | http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~gregkrenzelok/genealogy/veterinary%20corp%20in%20ww1/veterinary%20corp%20in%20ww1.html | US | Organization devoted to history of U.S. Army Veterinary Corps |
U.S. Army Veterinary Corps Historical Preservation Group | https://www.facebook.com/US-Army-Veterinary-Corps-Historical-Preservation-Group-127549193983683/ | US | Facebook page of U.S Army Veterinary Corps Preservation Group |
U.S. Cavalry Association, Ft. Reno, Oklahoma | http://www.uscavalry.org/ | US | Organization devoted to history of U.S. Cavalry |
Chronicling America - Newspapers online at LOC | https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ | US | Newspapers online at Library of Congress, Washington DC |
H-Net (Humanities Net) online collection - Horses | https://networks.h-net.org/search/site/horse?f%5b0%5d=im_group_audience%3A286 | Intl | Papers related to the humanities, including history |
H-Net World War I Crossroads | https://networks.h-net.org/world-war-i-crossroads | Intl | Papers related to the humanities, including history |
Library of Congress Online Collections - World War, 1914 to 1918, Horses | https://www.loc.gov/search/?in=&q=World+War%2C+1914-1918%2C+Horses&new=true&st= | US | Library of Congress search results - World War 1914-1918 Horses |
National Archives Catalog Search - Horses | https://catalog.archives.gov/search?q=*:*&f.level=(series%20or%20item%20or%20fileUnit)&f.subjectIds=10637564 | US | National Archives search results - World War I horses |
National Army Museum, London Online Collections - Horse In War | https://collection.nam.ac.uk/results.php?searchType=simple&resultsDisplay=list&themeID=21 | England | National Army Museum search results - Horses |
National World War I Museum Online Collections - Horses | http://theworldwar.pastperfectonline.com/search?page=1&search_criteria=horse&utf8=%E2%9C%93 | US | National World War I Museum search results - Horses |
Online images - U.S. Cavalry | https://www.google.com/search?q=us+cavalry+history&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwjuw6H9v9LSAhVD0YMKHQSZCGwQsAQIcw&biw=2560&bih=1208 | US | Online images - U.S. Cavalry |
Online images - U.S. Cavalry history | https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=us+cavalry+history&chips=q:us%20cavalry%20history,g_2:first%20world%20war&*&cad=h | US | Online images - U.S. Cavalry history |
A Display of Boots the Stockmen Wear | https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17784244/bootmaker_located_near_ft_riley/ | US | article on boots sold to U.S. Army |
Animal Gas Masks | http://rarehistoricalphotos.com/two-german-soldiers-mule-wearing-gas-masks-wwi-1916/ | Germany | article on horse gas masks |
During World War I, Newport News port was biggest supplier of war horses for British army | http://www.dailypress.com/features/history/dp-nws-world-war-i-war-horses-1-20141129-story.html | US | article on shipments through Newport News, VA |
Enlisted Men's Saddle, Model of 1917 | http://www.militaryhorse.org/archives/2652 | US | 1917 saddle discussion |
Handwritten World War I Notes of Verne Chaney, Sr. | https://catalog.archives.gov/id/17343227 | US | Verne Chaney, Sr. notes on WWI handwritten - 70+ pages |
John 'Galloping Jack' Seely | http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/world-war-one/the-western-front-in-world-war-one/john-galloping-jack-seely/ | England | brief bio of General John Seely |
Military Masks Animals in Chemical Warfare | http://www.gasmasklexikon.com/Page/USA-Mil-Animals.htm | US | in-depth article on animal gas mask technology |
Letter on Requisitioning of Mules | https://catalog.archives.gov/id/3856162 | US | letter on need for mules |
Spielberg’s War Horse: Animal Heroes of the Great War (Part 1). | https://patch.com/connecticut/durham/animal-heroes-of-the-great-war-part-1-spielberg-s-war-horse | England | simply written overview of the role of horses in WWI |
Summary of Horses, Mules, Ambulances, and Wagons Purchased and Sold in Various Locations | https://catalog.archives.gov/id/4576734 | US | official U.S. Army list of animals and vehicles before WWI |
Tables of Organization for Military Units | https://catalog.archives.gov/id/5184349 | US | Organization of military units at end of war |
The Horses of World War I | http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/03/horses-world-war/ | US | overview of British WWI horse use |
The Italian Cavalry School | https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/italian-cavalry-school-1906/ | Italy | discussion of Caprilli method and its influence on military riding |
The McClellan Saddle | https://www.militaryhorse.org/mcclellan-saddle | US | discussion of McClellan Saddle design evolution |
The Model 1904 McClellan Saddle Pattern III | https://www.militaryhorse.org/mcclellan-saddle/the-model-1904-mcclellan-saddle-pattern-iii | US | Saddle used in WW1 |
The Real War Horses of America | http://www.readex.com/blog/real-war-horses-america | US | blog site with multiple newspaper quotes and references |
The Unsung Equestrian Heroes of World War I and the Plot to Poison Them | http://www.npr.org/2017/04/06/522594344/the-unsung-equestrian-heroes-of-world-war-i-and-the-plot-to-poison-them | US | Article on attempt to poison horses at Newport News VA |
Films
Motion picture technology was in its early stages during the war, but even the blurred and jerky images are fascinating because they record such things as gestures and body language that go beyond words in describing battle conditions. The training films for the Quartermaster Corps are particularly enlightening because they were taken in the United States under better filming conditions than were possible in Europe, and show horse care and training practices of the day. Most of the films noted below are available on the web as video using the archives link that is shown.
Film Topic | Web Address |
[Hearst Newsreel Excerpts] Dead Bloated Horses | https://catalog.archives.gov/id/89749 |
[Pathe Newsreel Excerpts] Herds Of Horses Moving | https://catalog.archives.gov/id/89317 |
[Stock Newsreel Excerpts] Carts Pass Through Ruins Of Village Horses In Mud | https://catalog.archives.gov/id/89398 |
[Stock Newsreel Excerpts] Multiple Scenes For CBS Documentary | https://catalog.archives.gov/id/89386 |
[Stock Newsreel Excerpts] Horses Being Ponied On Road | https://catalog.archives.gov/id/89388 |
[Stock Newsreel Excerpts] Horses Struggle On Muddy Road | https://catalog.archives.gov/id/89224 |
[Stock Newsreel Excerpts] Horses Return From Front For Rest | https://catalog.archives.gov/id/89379 |
[Stock Newsreel Excerpts] Mules Carry Wounded On Trail | https://catalog.archives.gov/id/89304 |
[Stock Newsreel Excerpts] Yanks Pull Baby Carriage With Horse | https://catalog.archives.gov/id/89413 |
Miscellaneous Quartermaster Activities In The U.S.A Ft Sill Ft Sam Houston Cavalry Training June 1918 | https://catalog.archives.gov/id/24697 |
Pack Mule Training | https://catalog.archives.gov/id/35559 |
Remount And Veterinary Activities In The A. E. F. [1918] | https://catalog.archives.gov/id/24977 |
Saint-Mihiel [Offensive, 1918] | https://catalog.archives.gov/id/35460 |
The 42nd Division [World War I] | https://catalog.archives.gov/id/35457 |
The 83rd Division [World War I] | https://catalog.archives.gov/id/35472 |
The Army Of Occupation, December 1, 1918 To September 1, 1919, 3rd Army Headquarters Horse Care Instruction | https://catalog.archives.gov/id/24900 |
The Army Of Occupation, December 1, 1918 To September 1, 1919, 4th Corps Horse Show | https://catalog.archives.gov/id/24898 |
Training And Review Of Officer Candidates For The Field Artillery, At Camp Zachary Taylor, Louisville, Kentucky | https://catalog.archives.gov/id/24684 |