19 members completed 6.5 miles of the War Horse Route in Ormskirk. Before finishing off in the local Wetherspoons to celebrate one of our members birthdays.
In 1914 it was agreed that Canada Dock at the port of Liverpool
would be used to import horses to the North of England. Horses
were needed as part of the war effort. There was no site available
near the City so Lord Lathom offered Lathom Park to be used as a
Remount Depot free of charge.
The horses were initially brought by rail from Liverpool to Ormskirk
and then on to Lathom Park by road. Of the 215,000 horses and
mules brought to the Park more than 210,000 went into active
service, either at the front or to reserve depots in other parts of the
country. Horses were used in the cavalry or were put into harness to
pull wagons and gun carriages. They were also used as pack animals
because railway lines could not withstand artillery bombardments.
Some were not suitable for military service and would have ended
up working in local farms or with local hauliers.
As well as being a base for horses, the Park became a large employer
as all the horses needed to be supported by men with suitable
equine skills such as blacksmiths, farriers, grooms and riders. The
Park even had its own veterinary centre based at Scarisbrick Hall.
At the start of the war armies still used cavalry. As the war went on
it became more mechanised, meaning the era of war horses was
coming to an end.
The Remount Depot closed in 1919.
Our next walk will be around Chester on the 3rd Sunday of the month which is 20th May. It will be about 6 miles long at a steady pace. If you want more details come to group support desk on a Tuesday morning or ring John McKenzie on 0151 531 0207