Warrior the War Horse | Survival Against the Odds

Warrior the War Horse | Survival Against the Odds

Author: National Trust November 11, 2025 Duration: 21:43
What happened to the animals who served in the First World War? 

Uncover the extraordinary story of Warrior the war horse who survived the Western Front. General Jack Seely's horse, Warrior, was anything but ordinary. He carried his master through some of World War One's most brutal battles, including the Somme, Ypres and Passchendaele. Despite more than eight million horses, donkeys and mules losing their lives during the war, Warrior somehow survived. Join General Jack Seely's grandson and broadcaster, Brough Scott and historian, James Grasby, to retrace Warrior's incredible journey.


 
 [Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure. Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.  www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/



Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts

Production

Host : James Grasby
Producer and sound designer: Nikki Ruck

Contributors
Brough Scott

 Discover more
 
To visit Mottistone

Mottistone

To find out more about Warrior

Warrior The War Horse

If you would like to follow in the footsteps of warrior check out the 
 Warrior Trail
 
 
Follow us @wildtales Instagram account 
If you’d like to get in touch with feedback or a story idea you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

There’s a story waiting in every landscape, a secret history woven into the hedgerows and hidden in the soil. Wild Tales | Nature Podcast, brought to you by the National Trust, goes beyond the guidebook to find those narratives. Each episode is a quiet exploration of the intricate connections between the natural world and our own place within it. You might find yourself listening to the surprising biography of a centuries-old oak tree, learning how coastal erosion reveals forgotten chapters of human history, or understanding the subtle language of birdsong at dawn. This isn’t just a catalog of facts; it’s an immersive audio experience that considers the science of a changing ecosystem alongside the cultural traditions it sustains. We visit specific places-ancient woodlands, rugged coastlines, and working farms-to hear directly from the people who know them best: rangers, historians, ecologists, and local communities. The result is a thoughtful collection of stories that change how you see the world outside your window. Tune into this podcast for a deeper sense of connection, a moment of calm reflection, and a renewed appreciation for the wild and historic places that shape our shared story.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 193

Wild Tales | Nature Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Toad Patrol | The Perilous Path [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:37
As winter turns to spring , toads, frogs and newts across Britain begin their annual journey, making their way back to the ponds where they breed.For many, that journey means crossing busy roads and not all of them make…
Finding the Tundra Swan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:23
The Bewick’s or ‘Tundra’ swan has eluded ranger Ajay Tegala for years. It's hardly surprising: the swan’s epic migration is under pressure, and their numbers are dwindling. Can Ajay find them at their winter retreat of W…
You Might Like: Nature Fix | Stargazing in the City [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:53
This week we’re sharing another of our podcasts we think you’ll enjoy. Nature Fix takes you on adventures with people whose lives have been shaped by the outdoors. In this episode, wrap up warm and turn your eyes to the…
The Island of Secret Seals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:37
Orford Ness is well practiced at keeping secrets; in the 1940s it was classified military research, but now it is a brand new colony of grey seals. Countryside Manager Matt Wilson guides us around the bomb craters to try…
Pine Martens’ Return [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:05
Pine martens were once common in Britain but now, they're one of our rarest carnivores. These slinky, tree-dwelling predators had virtually disappeared in England and Wales by the turn of the 20th Century. But pine marte…
Arctic Terns | Globetrotting Dive-bombers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:56
The Farne Islands in the North Sea, off the coast of Northumberland, have a very special species of seabird during the summer that fiercely protects its young with its dive-bombing technique. However, it’s the Arctic Ter…
The Man, The Book and The Mountains [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:23
Just outside Belfast, lie the Mourne Mountains - a land of granite peaks and wide skies, but also a place of witches, fawns and lions. Protected as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, an Site of Special Scientific Int…
The Climbers of Eryri | A Story of Ice and Flowers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:00
The rock faces of Cwm Idwal are cold, dark and uninhabitable; unless what you love is to dangle off the frozen cliffs. Ice climbing takes you into a winter playground, but as the climate crisis thins the ice, how can cli…
A Robin is not just for Christmas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:08
As the festive season unfolds, one familiar face keeps appearing – the little robin. But behind its cheerful presence, is there more to this charming bird’s story? National Trust ranger Rosie Holdsworth chats to garden w…
Golf Course to Nature Reserve | Just Add Water? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:00
How can a golf course become a place for nature and people to thrive? Ajay Tegala visits Sandilands in Lincolnshire over its first year as the once manicured lawns transform into a wetland habitat. But with one of the dr…