War Horse

Aboard the ship, the soldiers are “buoyant with optimism, as if they were embarking on some great military picnic; it seemed none of them had a care in the world” (41). Their carefree attitude drastically differs from the horses’ fear in their stalls below deck. The ship rocks violently through the storms, frightening the animals, but the troopers try to help them remain calm. For Joey, his comfort comes not from Corporal Samuel but “from Topthorn, who remain[s] calm throughout” (42). For Joey and Topthorn, this is the beginning of a reciprocal, loyal friendship in which the two always look out for each other.

The troopers' joviality quickly dissipates as soon as they dock. Suddenly, the troops are surrounded by wounded soldiers at every turn. The troops walk by the terrible sight in silence; “here for the first time the men saw for themselves the kind of war they were going into, and there was not a single man in the squadron who seemed prepared for it" (42). Captain Nicholls, who hides the tears in his eyes as he walks by the countless wounded men, had been right to fear that his men underestimated the severity of the war.

The troops shake off their somber attitudes by the time they get “into the flat, open country” (43). The march ahead will be long and hard, but Joey feels cared for by the soldiers. Joey especially enjoys the cool buckets of water they bring when they rest by a stream. Each time they are brought a bucket of water, Topthorn shakes “his head in the water before he start[s] to drink, so that alongside him [Joey is] showered all over [his] face and neck with cooling water” (43). Topthorn comforts Joey throughout the march, staying by his side as they awaken to gunfire, and the two bravely walk closer and closer toward the not-too-distant battle.

Joey, Captain Nicholls, Topthorn, and Captain Stewart are practically inseparable on the march. Joey grows fond of Captain Nicholls, who “[rides him] as Albert had, with a gentle hand and a firm grip of the knees […]. And there was always some warm word of encouragement or gratitude after a long ride” (44). When they are alone, Captain Nicholls talks to Joey about the war. He confesses that “no one really [knows] where the enemy [is]” (45). After many days of searching through the countryside, the troops finally stumble upon them.

The battle is a storm of bullets and bodies, and the British army’s rifles are no match for the enemy’s machine guns: “[M]ore than a quarter of the squadron [are] lost in that one action” (47). Among those lost in battle is Captain Nicholls. Captain Stewart assures Joey that “he died leading that charge and you finished it for him” (47) and says Captain Nicholls would have been proud of him.

Joey meets his new rider, Trooper Warren, the very next morning. He is not a good rider and has “neither the experience and confidence of Corporal Samuel Perkins nor the finesse and sensitivity of Captain Nicholls […]. But once out of the saddle, he was the gentlest of men” (50). Trooper Warren is a kind soul who is incredibly gentle with Joey, tending to his sores and swollen legs. Over the next few months, Trooper Warren talks to Joey when they’re alone. He confesses that he initially didn’t want to join the army, “but the squire of his village had spoken to his father, and his father, who rented his house and his black smith shop from the squire, had no option but to send him off to war” (52).

Trooper Warren tells Joey that “in the same action in which Captain Nicholls had been killed, his horse had been shot down beneath him” (51). After that, he thought he would never ride a horse again, but since meeting Joey, he’s changed his mind. He tells the horse, “You’ve done that for me, Joey. Given me back my confidence. Feel I can do anything now” (52). Joey grows close to his owner as he learns about Trooper Warren’s personal life. He listens to letters from warrens mother and his plans to marry his childhood sweetheart, Sally, when he’s back from the war. The visits from Trooper Warren are a comfort to Joey and Topthorn both during that horrible winter, where “so many horses [go] off to the veterinary hospital and never [come] back” (55). Even Topthorn falls gravely ill, and Captain Stewart must nurse him back to health. 

When they get to the trenches, things are worse than the soldiers had heard. They are horrified to see that they will have to get past a barricade of barbed wire, which was supposed to have been destroyed by the infantry before the cavalry arrived. They gallop toward the enemy, “the shells [whining and roaring] overhead, and every explosion [seems] like an earthquake” (59). With Trooper Warren still clinging to him, Joey finds the strength to catch up with Topthorn and Captain Stewart.

Joey and Topthorn are among the only horses to make it to the wire, which has holes they can get through. When they reach the enemy trenches, however, they are empty. The soldiers push further toward enemy territory only to encounter a second wire. This time, there are no holes: the only way over is to jump. Joey follows Topthorn and Captain Stewart, who “leap over where the wire was lowest” (60). Joey searches for the rest of the squadron but soon discovers they are the sole survivors. He looks back to see “the riderless horses, all that was left of a proud cavalry squadron” (60) as they “[gallop] back towards [their] trenches, and the hillside below [is] strewn with dead and the dying” (60). Enemy soldiers surround Joey, Topthorn, and their riders.

Captain Stewart tells Trooper Warren to throw down his sword and surrender; enough men have died today. They dismount and look back at the battlefield behind them. Captain Stewart says, “What a ghastly waste. Maybe now when they see this they’ll understand that you can’t send horses into wire and machine guns. Maybe now they’ll think again” (61).

The men are prisoners of war, and the horses are to be separated from the soldiers. Trooper Warren worries about what will happen to Joey and Topthorn, but Captain Stewart assures him that “the Germans love their horses every bit as much as we do” (62). There is no time for long goodbyes as the Germans usher the horses off to one part of the camp and the soldiers off to another. As Joey looks back one final time, he can see Captain Stewart walking with his arm around Trooper Warren.