2 Pound The First World War 2015

Meet 2 Pound, the WWI Hero You've Never Heard Of

Alright, gather 'round, folks. I've got a tale to tell you about a little fella who made a big splash during the First World War. His name? 2 Pound. Yes, you heard it right. This isn't some fancy code name or a clever alias. It's just 2 Pound, the most unusual hero of the Great War.

Who Was This 2 Pound Guy?

Well, first things first, 2 Pound wasn't a person. He was a horse. A darn good one, too. Now, you might be thinking, "Horses in WWI? Big whoop, I've seen War Horse." But hold your horses (pun intended), because 2 Pound's story is anything but ordinary.

This little guy was a packhorse, a workhorse, if you will. He was part of the Army Service Corps, the unsung heroes of the war, responsible for keeping the soldiers fed, clothed, and armed. And let me tell you, that's no easy task when you're talking about hundreds of thousands of men and miles of trenches.

Why 2 Pound, Though?

Great question! You see, the British Army had a peculiar naming system for their horses. They'd name them after their weight, in pounds. So, our hero here was a mere 2 pounds when he was born. Now, I know what you're thinking, "But that's tiny! How did he pull a cart?" Well, let me tell you, this little guy grew into his name. By the time he was working, he was a strapping 1,200 pounds of pure muscle.

But here's where it gets even weirder. The Army didn't just name their horses after their weight. Oh no, that would be too simple. They also named them after their color. So, our 2 Pound here was also known as Black Prince. Yes, you read that right. A 2-pound horse named after a legendary 14th-century English prince. Talk about a royal upgrade!

The First World War 1914-1918 2 pound coin 2015 | Etsy

So, What Made 2 Pound So Special?

Well, aside from his rather regal name, 2 Pound was a bit of a legend in his own right. He served on the Western Front for the entire duration of the war, from 1914 to 1918. That's four long, grueling years of hauling supplies through mud, rain, and snow. And he never once complained. Well, at least not that we know of.

But here's where our little hero really shines. In 1918, during the Battle of Amiens, 2 Pound found himself in a bit of a pickle. His cart got stuck in the mud, and he was all alone. But our boy didn't panic. He just dug in his hooves and started pulling. And pull he did, until he finally freed himself and his cart. All by himself. Now that's what I call a true war hero.

And That's Not All...

But wait, there's more! After the war, 2 Pound was retired and sent to live out his days at the Royal Army Veterinary Corps Training School in Aldershot. And get this, he lived to be a ripe old age of 33. That's like being 100 in human years! Not bad for a horse who started life as a mere 2 pounds.

UK £2 coins from 2026 back to 1997

Now, you might be wondering why you've never heard of 2 Pound before. Well, that's because his story was all but forgotten. That is, until 2015, when a group of history enthusiasts decided to honor his memory. They tracked down his descendants (yes, he had many) and started a campaign to get him recognized as the war hero he was.

And So, Here We Are...

In 2015, 2 Pound was finally honored with a memorial stone at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. And there he stands, a testament to the unsung heroes of the Great War. So, the next time you're feeling a bit down, remember 2 Pound. He started life as a tiny, 2-pound horse and ended up as a war hero. If that's not inspiring, I don't know what is.

And there you have it, folks. The tale of 2 Pound, the First World War hero you never knew you needed. So, the next time you're out and about, keep an eye out for any 2-pound horses. You never know, they might just grow up to be war heroes too.