Stampeding horses. Crime reduction. Modern warfare problems.

Yesterday five horses from the Household Cavalry raced in panic through central London, spooked apparently during a routine exercise by builders dropping blocks of concrete or something. Three of the horses are fine, animal lovers will be pleased to know, but two are being treated for injuries, having crashed into taxis, buses and other vehicles. Four horses have been named in news articles today: Vida, Trojan, Quaker and Tennyson. Why is the fifth not named? Who knows?

A more important question, raised by a friend of mine is this: why do we still have cavalry? Surely we never ever again expect to have soldiers charge into battle on horseback. We came to the conclusion that it’s all for pomp and show and because “the tourists like it”. This is confirmed when you google it: 

“The Household Division forms a part of the British Army’s London District and is made up of five regiments of foot guards and two Household Cavalry regiments. The division is responsible for performing public duties and state ceremonies in London and Windsor. Such functions include the State Opening of Parliament, Trooping the Colour and Mounting the King’s Guard.”

It’s hard to believe we are in the 21st century. Even less so when you see the regalia even minor members of the royal family have to wear for such occasions!

However, as I reflected on this stuff and nonsense I recalled something I saw on television recently about Rudy Giuliani and his campaign to reduce crime in central New York. According to the report, he sent mounted police on horseback to patrol the centre. At the same time plain clothes policemen were out and about on foot in the crowds. The police on horseback were in radio contact with the police on foot. From their vantage point they could look down on the crowd and spot pick-pockets, bag-snatchers, violent incidents and other such crime as they were taking place and let the foot-police know. The latter were then able to arrest offenders in flagrante delicto. Incidents of petty street crime reduced significantly.

Of course, to carry out such vigilance the police force needs to be properly funded. That’s a different matter altogether.

But, no, we really are not likely to have soldiers charging into battle. War has taken a further step away from direct human involvement with the use of AI and drones. This makes it more impersonal, apart from for the people who are actually killed and wounded by the machine-driven attacks of course. 

We seem to have a lot of talk at the momenta about our need to be prepared to be on a “war footing” but at the same time I have heard reports that we (not just the UK but all the countries sending arms to conflict zones) could run out of actual weapons. We’ve donated or sold too many of them to war zones. And it seems that it takes a good deal longer to manufacture modern weapons than it did to make old-fashioned bullets. Warfare has become more sophisticated.

21st century problems!

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!