Sledmere Wagoners Special Reserve - learn about it from Martin Watts, Curator

Wagoners Special Reserve of Sledmere

Martin Watts, our guest speaker on March 1, gave a fascinating talk about the legendary Wagoners Special Reserve of Sledmere, describing in first hand anecdotes the experiences of the Yorkshire Wold farm lads who played such a key part in the First World War.

Martin, who is curator of the  Wagoners’ Museum at Sledmere House told how the Reserve was the brain child of Sir Mark Sykes, the 6th Baronet of Sledmere after he had served in the Boer War and seen first hand the logistical problems  in getting supplies to the front line.

With the threat of a European War, he had the idea of setting up a military transport unit using rose-drawn pole wagons. Two years before the outbreak of WW1 he had been given permission by the War Office to set up a Reserve using farm lads from the Yorkshire Wolds and their Shire horses.

The Wagoners drove the horse wagons with supplies of food, fodder and ammunition for the front line. At the end of the  war he commissioned a memorial dedicated to the Wagoners - a most impressive  monument which stands in the centre  of Sledmere.

Martin enthusiastically told the moving story of the Wagoners using quotes from interviews they had given at the time.

A most enjoyable talk which was greatly appreciated by all at the fellowship meeting - with the added bonus of an excellent meal!

Martin ended with a charming and evocative animated  film based on the narrative and artwork from  pupils at Sledmere School. This animated film starts with a wagon drawn by two horses. There is a terrible explosion and one of the horses is injured. The horse drawn horse ambulance comes to the rescue and takes the injured horse to the hospital where it recovers and is reunited with its driver and horse partner. Here it is :   https://www.yfanefa.com/record/67704   Full Gallop :The Ambulance story

A visit to the museum and indeed, Sledmere House itself , and its grounds is well worth a visit.   Clr D.J.