From the other side of the wire

100 years on from the training and works of the Horse Isolation Hospital, and the research by the team into finding its location has been reported in Germany. In Der Spiegel no less! Huge thanks to Angelika for writing this - some 4 years after she reported on the discovery of Pte Alan James Mather of the 33rd Btn AIF (whose remains were recovered by No-Mans-Land Archaeology in 2008). Alan briefly lived opposite the garrison church in Larkhill prior to his deployment and subsequent death at Messines in 1917.
http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/mensch/pferde-im-ersten-weltkrieg-archaeologen-untersuchen-lazarett-a-1005098.html

The Artists Gunners

This week has seen all the school workshops completed with six schools visited and many plans made for commemorative events next week. The next big project element is the artwork component with Olivia Gill. All participants - schools, soldiers and local volunteers - will be asked to put together figures for incorporation in a scroll to be unveiled at the end of the project. Olivia is currently exhibiting some wonderful War Horse art in Marlborough. Pop into the gallery to see what may be in store for us all!
http://olivialomenechgill.wordpress.com/2014/10/22/with-new-won-eyes-exhibition-opening/

Over the Airwaves

Another nice piece on the project by Shirley Swain of British Forces Broadcasting Services. This includes interviews with Julian and the splendid children of Durrington School:

http://web202.ssvc.com/radio/articles/2980

Wonderful work

If you go to Durrington school - keen digging participants on this project - you will be greeted by their model of Joey the War Horse. A wonderful model and a lovely way to greet visitors. Behind 'Joey' is a display of alot of the work done by children on this topic. Really well done to all of you.

In remembrance

Today the team started working with local schools to remember those men from the First World War who trained on the Plain and who died, being buried in local cemeteries. School children (in Amesbury and Durrington today) undertook internet searches to find out about the names and lives of those men and to remember them. The children will then add their thoughts to a poppy cross to be used on 11th November, and will use their new knowledge in other curricular studies. Lots of fascinating stories about those names from 1914-18, artillerymen, veterinary corps, and infantry. Not forgotten

Some thanks

This coming week will see the schoolchildren on the project researching the graves of soldiers from the First World War buried in local cemeteries. Before this though - a vote of thanks to the Wyvern Historical and Detecting club who were instrumental in the success of the archaeological fieldwork component of the War Horse project with many of the better finds were a result of their hard work. thanks chaps.

http://www.wyvernhds.co.uk/

A trip to the theatre

Thanks too to the Deputy Garrison Commander for popping along to view the work of the children - he was treated to his own private performance as a reward!

Shadows of the past

The puppet workshops are in full swing and today the children of Larkhill school year 6 (and some year 5) were joined by the wonderful Claire - puppeteer with the River People (http://www.theriverpeople.co.uk/). The children were asked to make a theatre with a screen from some old boxes and then to write some storylines around the War Horse theme. Some of their creations were magical and showed just how much they have learned about World War One. fantastic work everyone!

The Salisbury Journal

http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/11522116.Young_archaeologists_mark_war_horse_project/ Further news coverage for the project has come from the Salisbury Journal - lovely to see the local papers covering the hard work of the soldiers, volunteers, pupils and Julian thus far!

Wider Coverage

The project today received more coverage - this time on the DIO frontpage. the DIO (Defence Infrastraucture Organisation) owns and manages all Defence land. Hopefully this will expose the project to many that work on the military estate and who are the successors of those that served from 1914-18 https://insidedio.blog.gov.uk/2014/10/09/searching-for-war-horse/

Thanking the Lottery

The project is progressing at quite a pace now - having completed the archaeological dig, the next phase is for the schools to have puppetry workshops, then to examine the lives of local gunners and eventually to get involved in a major art project. All this would not have been possible without a grant from Wiltshire Council, and the generosity of the Heritage Lottery Fund - huge thanks to both. Judging by Harvey's photo, the lottery may have been around for longer than first thought....

Playing with light

Digging War Horse is incredibly lucky to number the amazing Harvey Mills amongst its list of volunteers. Harvey is a professional photographer (and how it shows) who has been recording the project for us as well as fulfilling his ambition of taking part in a dig. Harvey's website images of the recent open day can be found at http://www.harveymills.com/blog-2/digging-war-horse-part-2/ - check out all his other work too.

Open Day

Never mind horses, today it rained cats and dogs. Given th fabulous weather for the excavation the fact that autumn arrived with a vengeance today wa a bit of a shock. Not to be put off though, those that arrived for the open day today had lots to see. many of the excavation finds were displayed by project lead archaeologist, Julian Richards, whilst Richard Broadhead brought finds from the western front alongside his 'recruiting booth'. As it was a little colder that we were used to WW1 Range Stew and Anzac biscuits were a vital moral piece (thanks to Jay for this), and perhaps the stars of the show were the 18lb artillery piece and the Model T with Lewis Gun and support soldiers - adding to the overall WW1 feel of the day. Well done all

On Foot

Although we didn't find any horse bones (perhaps unsurprisingly), equine evidence was certainly discovered. Analysis of whether these were for Gun horses, cavalry horses, tranport or simply farm animals will follow but in some ways does not matter - those horses that started off as Farm animals were soon to be enlisted. Just like 'War Horse' really

From the earth

The archaeology at Fargo has yielded tantalising traces of the Great War. Although the horse hospital itself was ephemeral - there were several elements from the period; horse shoes, .303 rounds, buttons, buckles and cap badges. Several of these connected to the artillery, and others to the Anzacs - including the Australians whose presence here from 1916 was in large numbers. A superb album of photographs of the dig was taken by the wonderful Harvey Mills - see http://www.harveymills.com/blog-2/digging-war-horse/

Open Day

The excavations of the last fortnight were a great success in producing finds from the First World War period - including horseshoes. Some of the results will be posted here but, before this, there is the opportunity to see them for yourselves at the Open day at Larkhill school - Saturday 4th October 2014

The sight of the guns

This project looks at the role of the horse and the artillery. We are incredibly fortunate to be able to call upon the King's troop, and also the services of WW1 artillery re-enactors who add huge knowledge which they are able to pass to the children (and adults!) on the project

Finds from the past

This is not the first time that the area of the horse hospital has been subject to archaeological fieldwalking. In the 1980s, as part of the Stonehenge Environs programme, Julian Richards recovered many elements of Great War vintage from the area to go with the Neolithic components which was more the project's focus...

Recruiting serjeants

An important development today with lots of the local schools attending a talk by Julian to enthuse them about the archaeology of 'Digging War Horse' - soon lots had signed up (including some that had worked on the layers of larkhill programme beforehand). They were then 'recruited' by Richard Broadhead who told them lots of WW1 facts before they spoke with re-enactors and then went outside to look round the WW1 18 pounder, to experience the joys of army rations WW1-style (and a 21st Century comparison), and to meet some of the King's Troop horses and artillery personnel. A really well-attended event with lots of excited children and teachers and thus a fully booked excavation programme. Next stages are to send a list of the art, puppetry, commemoration and other events to the schools and other participants.

Digging starts on Monday so keep an eye on this page for updates...

the lie of the land

Today was the opportunity for Julian Richard (l) to visit the site with Ian Baxter (r) the farmer. The field still yields traces of the military railway, bricks, glass, pottery and enough else to suggest a busy time for fieldwalkers from the 15th...! Next is to tie in a grid with geophysical surveys and get ready for the start

Almost ready to begin...

The War Horse project will be officially launched at Larkhill primary school on 10th September giving local schools the opportunity to sign up for elements of the project. The archaeology side of things will start on 15th September under the  stewardship of Mr Julian Richards. Julian will be using geopysical survey, maps and then field-walking and test pitting to see if he can locate the site of the First World War horse hospital. We are hugely grateful to the HLF for their grant from the 'First World War then and now' strand which has enabled this project to happen. Over the net few months there will be updates here on:

• The archaeology
• Puppetry workshops
• Arts projects
• Commemorative studies of local gunners from the First World War
• Conservation of first World War srtillery pieces and much more

Other blogs are also linking in such as: http://ourhistoryheritage.wordpress.com/2014/06/26/introducing-project-digging-warhorse/

Watch this space for news and events and to keep in touch with progress