In the first week of September 1904, the biggest combined land-sea exercise the country had ever seen was underway and embarkation from Southampton was scheduled to begin at 6 am on the morning of September 5th. The people of Hampshire were to be treated to the sight of a complete army on the move as it made its way from Aldershot to camps at Baddesley Common and Southampton Common in readiness for the embarkation.
The infantry, artillery and engineers were expected to reach Southampton on Saturday, while the mounted troops from Woolmer Forest and Longmore Camp were anticipated on Baddesley Common by mid-afternoon. The deployment of the troops to Baddesley Common included 1st Army Corps, mounted infantry, 8th Hussars reinforced by a number of squadrons from the 14th Hussars, Royal Horse Artillery and the Royal Engineers' pontoon train. The final day's march went as planned and in the fine weather both camps were filling up at the anticipated times.
In characteristic military style the tents had been arranged in straight rows at right angles to the road and the field guns were similarly placed with the artillery horses hitched to the wagons. The cavalry steeds were tethered by means of ankle straps secured to pegs in the ground leaving their heads completely free.
After "lights out" comparative quiet descended on the Baddesley Common camp and then it began to rain. The guards on picket duty maintained a ceaseless vigil but were anticipating their relief. Inspection of the lines took place at regular intervals and the restlessness of some of the horses was not unexpected in such circumstances and no undue concern was felt. At about 2.15am a small commotion in the lines of the 8th Hussars resulted in one stallion kicking and injuring another horse and so the veterinary surgeon officer was sent for. When he arrived he confirmed that the injury was a broken leg and decided that the unfortunate animal should be destroyed. His pistol, fitted with a silencer didn't work and so he used a normal service revolver.
BANG!!! - the shot rang out and the horse was painlessly killed; but the unexpected noise echoed and re-echoed throughout the camp and the stillness of the night was dramatically shattered.
The restless horses immediately panicked and wrenching loose their pegs from the now rain-soaked ground - bolted. Within minutes all hell was let loose and 700 terrified cavalry horses went stampeding through the camp. The artillery horses tried to follow but the weight of the gun carriages prevented the majority from doing so although a number did break away. In the uproar, soldiers cursed and swore as they collided or fell over each other in the gloom, in their haste either to help or to get out of the way of the rearing, kicking and galloping horses. Many troopers were injured trying to catch their charges but a number of Hussars quickly mounted the remaining tethered horses and followed in hot pursuit the fast disappearing mass of horse flesh, with all the excitement of the chase.
One vast herd made off in the direction of Chilworth where the landlord of the Clump Inn managed to capture a group of 17 horses. From Chilworth a large number took a left hand turn, galloped through Chandlers Ford and on to Winchester (10 miles away) where 19 of the 200 that rampaged through that City were cornered. Some of the remainder got as far away as Basingstoke (30 miles) in the north of the County. Others clattered through Botley and Bishops Waltham to the East (15 miles). About 100 pursued the route down the Avenue into Southampton and in attempting to get through the narrow entrance of the Bargate, many of the horses were terribly injured. Even this didn't stop their mad gallop and they charged down the High Street to Western Esplanade and finally slowed as they reached the marsh lands of Millbrook.
The rounding up of the horses continued for the rest of the night and the next day. Many were found to be mutilated and 47 were shot to put them out of their misery.
The exercise however continued with the 1st Dragoons summoned to replace the Hussars, who with their 371 remaining horses, went home by specially commissioned trains from Romsey railway station.
© Sandra J Smith MBE 2006