麻豆社

It's difficult to overstate the importance of horses, donkeys and mules in World War One.

Bert Stokes, a gunner from New Zealand who fought on the Western Front, recalled being told in 1917: 鈥淭o lose a horse was worse than losing a man, because...men were replaceable, while horses were not.鈥�

The animals helped win the war 鈥� pulling heavy guns, carrying food and equipment where no motorised vehicle could go.

When the war was over the British Army owned 800 thousand equines 鈥� those that were strong enough to return to England needed to be rehabilitated.

Clare Worden spoke to Valarie Knights who owns the White House in North Burlingham. During the war it was used as a horse hospital for those returning from the front.

Location: The White House, North Burlingham, Norfolk NR13 4EL
Image: The horse hospital then and now, courtesy of Valarie Knights