The Grave of "First Charger" Princess -

Walking along Shoe Lane in Farnborough is the normal route for my pup, on this occasion he happened across something I have never seen....... Military Horse Graves.

The graves were obscured by undergrowth, but once I walked through the entrance to part of the Army Golf Course, the head stones became visible between the trees. The particular headstone that I photographed was of Princess, a "First Charger" belonging to a senior officer. The horse was buried in the plot in 1888, and the amazing thing is this horse probably served in the Boer War in 1880 along with her officer.

Although these headstones display the respect & affection that officers had for their horses, it is also a direct contradiction to the way in which the lowly soldiers were treated. And for me, a sad reminder that there are many loyal, brave troopers, who unlike Princess, never had the opportunity to be return home and be laid to rest near their family and friends.

The Headstone Text

Do not disturb the bone of Princess, who served in her Majestys Army for 21 years until she ended her days as First Charger to Lt General Archibald Alison Bart CCB, commanding the Aldershot Division. And was laid here 6th December 1888 aged 26yrs