Nice story for a change. "The story of War Horse has delighted readers and audiences around the world after the heroics of the equine stars were recounted in a children's book, a successful stage play and Oscar-nominated Hollywood movie directed by Steven Spielberg. Now, a real-life First World War horse has been awarded the "animals' VC" in recognition of the bravery of millions of animals that served during the conflict. The Honorary PDSA Dickin Medal is being presented posthumously to famous war horse Warrior, dubbed "the horse the Germans could not kill" at a special ceremony. The award, in the centenary year of the First World War, is the first honorary PDSA Dickin Medal ever presented in the veterinary charity's 97-year history as recognition of the gallantry showed by all the animals that served on the front line during the war. The medal will be accepted by author and broadcaster Brough Scott MBE, grandson of Warrior's owner and rider, General Jack Seely, at a special ceremony compered by Kate Adie OBE at the Imperial War Museum (IWM) London. The bravery of the thoroughbred was documented in a book written by General Seely, in 1934. After arriving on the Western Front on August 11 1914 with Gen Seely, Warrior stayed there throughout the war, surviving machine gun attacks and falling shells at the Battle of the Somme. He was dug out of the mud of Passchendaele and twice trapped under the burning beams of his stables, surviving many charges at the enemy and proving an inspiration to the soldiers he was fighting alongside. Despite suffering several injuries, Warrior survived and returned home to the Isle of Wight in 1918, where he lived with the Seely family until his death aged 33. Mr Scott said he accepted the medal with "great pride and gratitude" on behalf of Warrior and all the "remarkable" animals in the Great War." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/11069681/Heroic-First-World-War-horse-Warrior-receives-animal-Victoria-Cross.html
