Charge!

Cavalry played a significant part in warfare into the twentieth century. In the First World War all warring nations had substantial cavalry arms - it is estimated that there were a million cavalry horses by 1916.

On the Western Front, trenches, shell-holes, barbed wire and machine guns proved deadly to both horses and riders and cavalry charges were rarely mounted after 1914.

In the Middle East and on other battlefronts where the war was more mobile, the cavalry played a greater role.

Today, only the Indian Army has a regular horse-mounted cavalry unit. The British Army still uses mounted cavalry for ceremonial purposes.

All images Imperial War Museum Collection.