The National Army Museum gives us some very solid details. Vonolel was born around 1872 and Roberts bought him in Bombay after the Lushai Expedition. The horse was named after the son of a prominent Lushai chief. The museum describes Vonolel as Roberts’ only reliable horse during the Second Afghan War. (National Army Museum Collection)
He was genuinely small. The FEI puts him at about 14.2hh (148 cm), while Roberts himself was only about 160–162 cm tall. So the famous image of the great Victorian general on his mighty charger isn’t really what we have here: small man, small Arab, enormous journey. (National Army Museum)
In August 1880, Roberts’ force marched roughly 300 miles/480 km from Kabul to Kandahar during the Second Afghan War. Vonolel carried Roberts on that celebrated advance. (National Army Museum)
But this is perhaps my favourite part: Vonolel didn’t disappear from history once the battle was over.
He remained Roberts’ horse for more than 20 years. He became a familiar figure at military parades in India and eventually travelled with Roberts to Ireland. Roberts later estimated that Vonolel had travelled with him for more than 50,000 miles. (National Army Museum Collection)
Then we get the medals.
Vonolel was awarded three medals by Queen Victoria: the Afghanistan Medal, the Kandahar Star and the 1897 Jubilee Medal. He actually wore his decorations on ceremonial occasions and took part in Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee procession in 1897, following the royal carriage. (National Army Museum)
And the ending is wonderful — although rather Victorian.
Vonolel died in 1899 and was buried at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin with full military honours. His grave survives, and the National Army Museum describes him as the only four-legged soldier buried there. (National Army Museum)
Roberts then had an extraordinary memorial made for him: the Vonolel Bowl, created in 1904 using Vonolel’s preserved hooves, saddle leather and medals. It remains in the National Army Museum collection. (National Army Museum Collection).
Silver-mounted bowl, with horse’s hooves, saddle leather and medals, designed by Beatrice Lawson, hallmarked for William Hutton and Sons, London, 1904.
Sources:
National Army Museum’s records of Vonolel
https://www.fei.org/stories/100-years/war-horses-cavalrymen-and-fei-jumping-nations-cuptm
