Seely Estate, where “Galloper Jack” rode Warrior, the ... · Sir Alfred Munnings, war artist...
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Rambles by Bus e best way to see the Island The Island story of the real Warhorse Trail The Warrior Leave the car at home – take a Southern Vectis bus to the Isle of Wight’s most inspiring walks. Just use the handy QR code inside to find your bus route Follow in the footsteps of General Jack Seely and Warrior the War Horse in this circular coastal trail on the Island’s south west flank Early days John Edward Bernard Seely – known as Jack – son of Sir Charles Seely, was born in 1868 and grew up at Brook, on the south west coast of the Isle of Wight. An adventurous boy, at the age of nine he fell 100 feet from the local cliffs but was fortunate to land on the turf that had collapsed from the cliff edge. As a young man he joined the local lifeboat team and, in 1891, was involved in a daring rescue. e Henri et Leontine had weathered Atherfield Ledge, but then ran aground at the top of the water to the east of Brook Chine. An attempt to launch the lifeboat was unsuccessful. Jack Seely, then 23 years old, swam out to the wreck with a line. He helped the captain, who, on impact, had been scalped by the bulwarks, and together with Brook blacksmith Tom Hookey, rigged a breeches buoy to get the captain ashore. e rest of the crew were helped ashore as the tide receded. For his efforts Jack Seely received the French gold medal of honour. In 1900 he joined the Hampshire Yeomanry and fought in the Boer War, taking own his white horse Maharaja, which he dyed brown as camouflage. Jack Seely was awarded the DSO medal. In 1901, along with his friend Winston Churchill, he entered parliament as member for the Isle of Wight. ey both joined the army reform group and in 1912 Seely became Secretary of State for War. But in 1913, disaster struck when his wife, Emily Crichton, died in childbirth, leaving seven children. He resigned his ministerial post over the Ulster home rule crisis. Jack had obtained a thoroughbred horse, Cinderella. She was a gentle horse and followed him wherever he went. In 1908, she had a foal named Warrior in anticipation of duties in the cavalry. Jack took Warrior to the beach at Brook where the horse learned to accept the incoming waves. World War I Jack and Warrior went straight into battle and spent the next four years together on the Western Front. Initially Jack became a runner or “galloper” for Sir John French, liaising between the British expeditionary force and the French army. Jack wanted his own command and was placed in charge of the newly-formed Canadian cavalry brigade. Mechanised trench warfare was an horrific environment for both men and horses. e static nature of the western front meant that until 1916 General Seeley and his cavalry were deployed as infantry in the battles of Festubert and Givenchy. Later that year, for the allied Somme offensive, Jack’s brigade joined massed ranks of cavalry that were reformed ready to exploit the ‘gap in the line’ that never materialised. In support of the tank-led Cambrai attack in 1917, a total of 27,000 cavalry were waiting in reserve. For part of the advance Jack and Warrior followed a leading tank. However, cavalry action was limited to a Canadian Garrys squadron charging German machine guns and an artillery battery for which their leader Lt Strachan was awarded the Victoria Cross. A second VC was won in 1917 by Lt Harvey when Jack’s Cavalry rapidly captured French villages as the Germans made their strategic withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line. Jack’s eldest son, Lt Frank Seely, fighting with the Hampshires, died near Arras in 1917. Warrior was renowned for his bravery and steadfastness, surviving numerous close encounters over four years of warfare. He was adopted as an unofficial mascot by the Canadian cavalrymen. e Battle of Moreuil Wood Spring 1918 saw the Germans advance 45 kilometres between the British and French armies. ey threatened the strategic railhead at Amiens. e Canadian cavalry brigade was able to move rapidly to help check the German threat at Moreuil Wood on the ridge overlooking the town. On the 30th March, General Seely, with Warrior, led his signal squadron to the edge of Moreuil Wood as pathfinders for the rest of the brigade. e Canadian cavalry – both mounted and on foot, with support from Royal Flying Corps planes – engaged in sustained and grisly hand-to-hand fighting with the German 101st Grenadiers. e brigade won its third VC, awarded to Lt Flowerdew who led a charge of 100 troopers against a group of 300 retiring German infantry. Eventually the woods were cleared of Germans, but at a cost to the Canadians who had lost a quarter of their men. Two days later the position had been reversed and Jack was given command of a mixed group of cavalry to take the woods again. Over a period of seven days Moreuil Wood exchanged hands five times as the Allies stopped the German army reaching Amiens. ankfully, the Battle of Moreuil Wood was one of warfare’s last major cavalry engagements. During these actions Warrior became lame and Jack was gassed while rescuing one of his men. He was invalided home but Warrior remained at war. ey were later reunited to serve to the end of hostilities. Bay Brook Seely Estate, where “Galloper Jack” rode Warrior, the Warhorse After the war Jack and Warrior returned home on Christmas Day 1918. Four years to the day after the start of the battle of Moreuil, Jack and Warrior won the Isle of Wight Point to Point. Warrior became quite a celebrity and was visited by Winston Churchill and Queen Mary. Local schoolchildren would cheer when they saw him. Warrior died in 1941 at the exceptional age of 33 years and was dubbed “e horse the Germans could not kill” in an obituary in e Times. Between the wars Jack Seeley continued to contribute to public life, including helping set up the Royal Air Force and National Savings organisation. e then Lord Mottistone died in 1947 at the age of 79 years. sea breezes and far-reaching views on the former Main picture Brook Bay and Hanover Point with Tennyson Down behind Inset, top Lifeboat memorial plaque in Brook Church: Jack Seely served on the William Slaney Lewis Inset, bottom Royal Canadian Dragoons Trail The Warrior Description A circular walk following the coastal path and Mottistone Common where there are spectacular panoramic views. e walk passes places of historical interest where Warrior, the War Horse lived with his owner General Jack Seely. Distance 5.7 miles. Start Mottistone Manor and Church bus stop (no 12). Access information A mixture of paths, tracks and lanes. Some hilly sections. Refreshments Tea room at NT Mottistone Manor (in season). Toilets Mottistone Manor (in season). Internet All walks in this series can be downloaded from this website www.iowramblers. com/page44.htm or www.islandbuses.info/things-do/ rambles-bus/ Countryside Code Respect Protect Enjoy Respect other people • Consider the local community and other people enjoying the outdoors • Leave gates and property as you find them and follow paths unless wider access is available Protect the natural environment • Leave no trace of your visit and take your litter home • Keep dogs under effective control Enjoy the outdoors • Plan ahead and be prepared • Follow advice and local signs e Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Mottistone Here, Jack Seely’s ashes lie in the Cheke Chapel, notable for the unusual use of oak. It is enclosed by a parclose screen of oak, around the top of which is a long Latin inscription in memory of General Jack Seely. One section reads “Much gifted, he lavished his talents in the service of all men. Wise in counsel and vigorous in action, his simple gaiety and imperturbable courage were the inspiration of many, and his loving kindness the delight of children”. e parclose screen was designed by John Seely, architect son of Jack. John Seely became the second baron and was surveyor to the fabric of St. Paul’s Cathedral. ere is an inscription in south porch to the memory of John and Evelyn, Lady Mottistone. St Mary the Virgin Church, Brook e 13 th century church was almost totally destroyed in 1862 when a new gallery made from cedar wood salvaged from the wreck of the Cedrene, caught fire. Jack Seely will always be remembered locally for the outstanding part he played as a member and coxswain of Brook Lifeboat. Lifeboats had to be rowed and sailed and their crews accomplished incredible feats of bravery. Between 1860 and 1937, 381 lives were saved, and there are painted boards in the church recording rescues and showing appreciation of the lifeboat crews. Opposite the church is a field called Sidling Paul where Warrior spent his young days. Background picture Looking south east along the coast to St Catherine’s Point Inset, left Looking inland from the coast path towards Ridget Lane Inset, right Brook Hill House Front cover, main picture Looking south west along the coast to Tennyson Down Inset Statue of Jack Seely on Warrior at Carisbrooke Castle Trail The Warrior
Transcript of Seely Estate, where “Galloper Jack” rode Warrior, the ... · Sir Alfred Munnings, war artist...
RamblesbyBusThebest wayto see theIsland
The Island story of the real Warhorse
TrailTheWarrior
Leave the carat home – take a
Southern Vectis busto the Isle of Wight’s most inspiring walks.
Just use the handyQR code inside
to find yourbus route
Follow in the footsteps of General Jack Seely and Warrior the WarHorse in this circular coastal trail on the Island’s south west flank
Early daysJohn Edward Bernard Seely – known as Jack – son of Sir Charles Seely, was born in 1868 and grew up at Brook, on the south west coast of the Isle of Wight. An adventurous boy, at the age of nine he fell 100 feet from the local cliffs but was fortunate to land on the turf that had collapsed from the cliff edge.As a young man he joined the local lifeboat team and, in 1891, was involved in a daring rescue. The Henri et Leontine had weathered Atherfield Ledge, but then ran aground at the top of the water to the east of Brook Chine. An attempt to launch the lifeboat was unsuccessful. Jack Seely, then 23 years old, swam out to the wreck with a line. He helped the captain, who, on impact, had been scalped by the bulwarks, and together with Brook blacksmith Tom Hookey, rigged a breeches buoy to get the captain ashore. The rest of the crew were helped ashore as the tide receded. For his efforts Jack Seely received the French gold medal of honour. In 1900 he joined the Hampshire Yeomanry and fought in the Boer War, taking own his white horse Maharaja, which he dyed brown as camouflage. Jack Seely was awarded the DSO medal.In 1901, along with his friend Winston Churchill, he entered parliament as member for the Isle of Wight. They both joined the army reform group and in 1912 Seely became Secretary of State for War. But in 1913, disaster struck when his wife, Emily Crichton, died in childbirth, leaving seven children. He resigned his ministerial post over the Ulster home rule crisis.
Jack had obtained a thoroughbred horse, Cinderella. She was a gentle horse and followed him wherever he went. In 1908, she had a foal named Warrior in anticipation of duties in the cavalry. Jack took Warrior to the beach at Brook where the horse learned to accept the incoming waves.
World War IJack and Warrior went straight into battle and spent the next four years together on the Western Front. Initially Jack became a runner or “galloper” for Sir John French, liaising between the British expeditionary force and the French army. Jack wanted his own command and was placed in charge of the newly-formed Canadian cavalry brigade. Mechanised trench warfare was an horrific environment for both men and horses. The static nature of the western front meant that until 1916 General Seeley and his cavalry were deployed as infantry in the battles of Festubert and Givenchy.Later that year, for the allied Somme offensive, Jack’s brigade joined massed ranks of cavalry that were reformed ready to exploit the ‘gap in the line’ that never materialised. In support of the tank-led Cambrai attack in 1917, a total of 27,000 cavalry were waiting in reserve. For part of the advance Jack and Warrior followed a leading tank. However, cavalry action was limited to a Canadian Garrys squadron charging German machine guns and an artillery battery for which their leader Lt Strachan was awarded the Victoria Cross.A second VC was won in 1917 by Lt Harvey when Jack’s Cavalry rapidly captured French villages as the Germans made their strategic withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line.Jack’s eldest son, Lt Frank Seely, fighting with the
Hampshires, died near Arras in 1917.Warrior was renowned for his bravery and steadfastness, surviving numerous close encounters over four years of warfare. He was adopted as an unofficial mascot by the Canadian cavalrymen.
The Battle of Moreuil WoodSpring 1918 saw the Germans advance 45 kilometres between the British and French armies. They threatened the strategic railhead at Amiens. The Canadian cavalry brigade was able to move rapidly to help check the German threat at Moreuil Wood on the ridge overlooking the town.On the 30th March, General Seely, with Warrior, led his signal squadron to the edge of Moreuil Wood as pathfinders for the rest of the brigade. The Canadian cavalry – both mounted and on foot, with support from Royal Flying Corps planes – engaged in sustained and grisly hand-to-hand fighting with the German 101st Grenadiers. The brigade won its third VC, awarded to Lt Flowerdew who led a charge of 100 troopers against a group of 300 retiring German infantry. Eventually the woods were cleared of Germans, but at a cost to the Canadians who had lost a quarter of their men.Two days later the position had been reversed and Jack was given command of a mixed group of cavalry to take the woods again. Over a period of seven days Moreuil Wood exchanged hands five times as the Allies stopped the German army reaching Amiens. Thankfully, the Battle of Moreuil Wood was one of warfare’s last major cavalry engagements.During these actions Warrior became lame and Jack was gassed while rescuing one of his men. He was invalided home but Warrior remained at war. They were later reunited to serve to the end of hostilities.
Bay BrookSeely Estate, where “Galloper Jack” rode Warrior, the Warhorse
After the warJack and Warrior returned home on Christmas Day 1918.Four years to the day after the start of the battle of Moreuil, Jack and Warrior won the Isle of Wight Point to Point. Warrior became quite a celebrity and was visited by Winston Churchill and Queen Mary. Local schoolchildren would cheer when they saw him. Warrior died in 1941 at the exceptional age of 33 years and was dubbed “The horse the Germans could not kill” in an obituary in The Times.Between the wars Jack Seeley continued to contribute to public life, including helping set up the Royal Air Force and National Savings organisation. The then Lord Mottistone died in 1947 at the age of 79 years.
sea breezes and far-reaching views on the former
Main picture Brook Bay and Hanover Point with Tennyson Down behindInset, top Lifeboat memorial plaque in Brook Church: Jack Seely served on the William Slaney LewisInset, bottom Royal Canadian Dragoons Trail
TheWarrior
Description A circular walk following the coastal path and Mottistone Common where there are spectacular panoramic views. The walk passes places of historical interest where Warrior, the War Horse lived with his owner General Jack Seely.Distance 5.7 miles. Start Mottistone Manor and Church bus stop (no 12). Access information A mixture of paths, tracks and lanes. Some hilly sections. Refreshments Tea room at NT Mottistone Manor (in season). Toilets Mottistone Manor (in season). Internet All walks in this series can be downloaded from this website www.iowramblers.com/page44.htm or www.islandbuses.info/things-do/rambles-bus/
Countryside CodeRespect Protect Enjoy
Respect other people• Consider the local community and other
people enjoying the outdoors• Leave gates and property as you find
them and follow paths unless wider access is available
Protect the natural environment• Leave no trace of your visit and take your
litter home• Keep dogs under effective control
Enjoy the outdoors• Plan ahead and be prepared• Follow advice and local signs
The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, MottistoneHere, Jack Seely’s ashes lie in the Cheke Chapel, notable for the unusual use of oak. It is enclosed by a parclose screen of oak, around the top of which is a long Latin inscription in memory of General Jack Seely. One section reads “Much gifted, he lavished his talents in the service of all men. Wise in counsel and vigorous in action, his simple gaiety and imperturbable courage were the inspiration of many, and his loving kindness the delight of children”.
The parclose screen was designed by John Seely, architect son of Jack. John Seely became the second baron and was surveyor to the fabric of St. Paul’s Cathedral. There is an
inscription in south porch to the memory of John and Evelyn, Lady Mottistone.
St Mary the Virgin Church, BrookThe 13th century church was almost totally destroyed in 1862 when a new gallery made from cedar wood salvaged from the wreck of the Cedrene,caught fire. Jack Seely will always be remembered locally for the outstanding part he played as a member and coxswain of Brook Lifeboat. Lifeboats had to be rowed and sailed and their crews accomplished incredible feats of bravery. Between 1860 and 1937, 381 lives were saved, and there are painted boards in the church recording rescues and showing appreciation of the lifeboat crews.Opposite the church is a field called Sidling Paul where Warrior spent his young days.
Background picture Looking south east along the coast to St Catherine’s PointInset, left Looking inland from the coast path towards Ridget LaneInset, right Brook Hill HouseFront cover, main picture Looking south west along the coast to Tennyson DownInset Statue of Jack Seely on Warrior at Carisbrooke Castle
TrailTheWarrior
Sir Alfred Munnings, war artistSir Alfred Munnings (left) was known as one of England’s finest painters of horses. His talent was employed in his position as war artist to the Canadian
Cavalry Brigade in the latter part of the First World War, under the
patronage of Max Aitken. During this time he painted many scenes, the first being a portrait of General Jack Seely mounted on Warrior in 1918, which is now on display in the Canadian War Museum. Munnings worked on this canvas close to the German front lines. When General Seely’s unit was forced into a hasty withdrawal, the artist discovered what it was like to come under shellfire. Munnings also painted Charge of Flowerdew’s Squadron in 1918 depicting what is known as “the last great cavalry charge”, at the Battle of Moreuil Wood.
Route From Mottistone Manor, by the steps near the manor entrance , go right on footpath BS43 and follow this towards The Longstone. At a fork go right to follow the winding path to steps leading to a track at a kissing gate. Continue straight ahead on the track which then leads to The Longstone . Go left by the house along a track where there are panoramic views of the coast. At a wooded area, go through a Ramblers gate. Then go through a horse stile at BS39 onto a private drive which leads to Brook House. Go right along the drive to reach a lane. Carefully follow this lane to a bend . Here cross the lane onto a byway, S26, by a small car parking area. Go through a wooden gate onto Brook Down. After 50yds take the left fork which takes you uphill and turns left on byway BS89. Go downhill and go through a 7-bar metal gate. Go left on BS86, and at a farm lane, go left. Here there are good views of Brook Hill House. At a lane , you meet Brook
Church high on its hill. After exploring Brook Church cross over the road and go left into the village road. Take care for traffic, keeping to the right to face oncoming vehicles. Pass the entrance to Brook Hill House and at the cross to the green and follow this by the stream passing Seely Village Hall. Continue along the road to the junction with the Military Road . Here turn right following the verge along the Military Road and then cross into the NT car park Brook Chine. Continue straight on through a gate leading to Brook Bay. This is where Warrior first learned to brave the oncoming waves. Return to the car park at the gate and turn right to follow a field which leads to cottages by the Chine. Follow the path around to the old Lifeboat Station. Continue on the path which goes left along the coast.Follow the coast path through gates and stiles, passing Sudmoor which is part of the Mottistone Estate. At a public footpath sign , go left over a stile and cross the field to a metal farm gate by the Military Road . Cross over into Ridget lane, a public byway BS100. Continue to Mottistone Church. Cross the road to reach Mottistone Manor.
InformationBus times 0871 200 22 33 calls from landlines cost 10p per minute
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TheWarrior The Seely family at Brook and MottistoneCharles Seely was born in 1803 of modest Lincolnshire millers, but by the time of his death in 1887 was one of the largest landowners in the country. He bought Brook House in 1857 and a number of other properties in the area and eventually owned much of West Wight. Charles and his wife Mary enlarged Brook House and each of their three daughters settled in the Isle of Wight. Charles Seely set up the County Library service, a local school and the lifeboat station.In 1910 Charles’ son Sir Charles Seely, built Brook Hill House (not to be confused with Brook House) both for the views and because he had bronchial trouble and was advised to live higher up. It has features similar to Dartmouth College. Sir Charles had nine children and over 50 grandchildren. He left the Brook estate to his son Jack (pictured above). Jack moved to Mottistone Manor (pictured below) in 1926 and sold Brook House to his brother.
Top The Cheke Chapel, showing the oak parclose screen, in Mottistone ChurchBottom Brook Hill House with Brook village in the foreground
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By accident – and not design – the Warrior Trail, rotated slightly
anti-clockwise, is a very similar shape to
the silhouette of a real horse...
Brook
