A WOMAN is leading a campaign to create a permanent memorial to the horses, mules and donkeys that served in the First World War.

Susan Osborne, of Cuckfield, near Haywards Heath, is co-founder of the War Horse Memorial, a larger-than-life bronze horse standing on an inscribed Portland stone plinth which will be unveiled in Ascot, Berkshire next year.

At the foot of the horse, designed by Lancashire artist Susan Leyland, will be war artefacts and artillery shell casings will be buried within the stone plinth.

Mother-of-three Susan Osborne said: “For almost a hundred years the millions of horses, mules and donkeys who gave service in the First World War have been largely forgotten.

“The sacrifice of the nearly ten million men who died from 1914 to 1918 will always remain the focus of our remembrance.

“But we can, and should, also reflect on the fact that animals played a big part—and paid a high price.

“Indeed, throughout history no other conflict has seen as many animals deployed into what was to be known as the war to end all wars.

“Millions of UK, allied and Commonwealth horses died in battle and shellfire but also from exposure and disease.

“Some were so hungry they ate their rugs and died choking on the buckles.

“Many drowned in the mud. There has been no fitting tribute to the sacrifice they made.”

Susan and her team hope to redress the balance by creating a “truly magnificent memorial”.

It will incorporate augmented technology, which is created by overlaying computer-generated images to give an enhanced view of real life. It it thought to be the first time the technology has been used on a national monument.

Private funding and public donations will pay for the one and a half times life-size bronze statue along with proceeds from the sale of limited edition maquettes – scaled-down versions of the

bronze horse which are £20,000 each.

Maquettes will also be presented to the Queen, Downing Street and the Imperial War Museum.

The monument in Ascot will be unveiled in June 2018.

Donations to the project can be made at any Lloyds Bank branch or by visiting thewarhorsememorial.org