Statue to commemorate war horse to be unveiled

War veteran Blackie and Lt Leonard Comer Wall who died in battle aged 20

A statue to commemorate a war horse that lived out its final days on Merseyside is set to be unveiled.

The horse, named Blackie, served during World War One and was buried at Lodge Farm in Halewood, Knowsley, after retiring to a former farm located there in 1937.

The Grade II-listed grave, at the site off Higher Road, had fallen into disrepair until the area was recently redeveloped for housing.

This grave has since been preserved by Miller Homes and a new 2m (6ft 7in) high statue by sculptor Simon O’Rourke will be unveiled on 9 July.

The Grade II-listed grave had fallen into disrepair

Lt Leonard Comer Wall was born in West Kirby, Wirral in 1896

Blackie served in the 275th Brigade Royal Field Artillery A Battery 55th West Lancashire Division during World War One.

His master Lt Leonard Comer Wall had requested in his will that, should he not survive the war, his faithful horse would be buried with his medals and decorations.

Lt Wall was killed in action at Ypres whilst riding Blackie on 9 June 1917 at the age of 20.

Blackie lived to be 35 and spent its last days in retirement at Lodge Farm, which later became Liverpool Horses’ Rest, after moving there in 1937.

When Blackie died in 1942, the horse was buried with its master’s medals as per his wishes, but the grave fell into disrepair and became overgrown.

Driver Francis Wilkinson with his charges, Kitty, left, and Blackie, right

Now Miller Homes, along with local residents, have preserved and improved the site to include a pathway to Blackie’s grave.

The grave, which can now be accessed by the public, and is surrounded by wildflower meadows and shrubs and trees.

Artist Simon O'Rourke, Debbie Vivis from Miller Homes and local historian Heather Charles

A new 2m (6ft 7in) high sculpture is to be unveiled

The sculpture will be unveiled at the Miller Homes’ Wilbury Park Development on Higher Road at 10:00 on Tuesday 9 July.

Local historian Mike Royden, who grew up in the area and has written extensively about Lt Leonard Comer Wall, said it was a "landmark moment" which helped to "remind people of the strong bonds shared between thousands of soldiers and their horses on the Western Front and the sacrifices they made".