Ragtime, Arab horse decorated with WW1 medals
Ragtime, also known as Raggie, was a grey Arab horse, pictured here with his five medals displayed on his brow band. Three were for service during World War One, one for the Arab Revolt, and one for long service and good conduct. Born at a regimental farm in India in 1910, Ragtime served in Mesopotamia with the cavalry under his master Michael Willoughby, the 11th Baron Middleton. In Summer 1916, they parted company, with Lord Middleton returning to India, and Raggie being sold to the government, going to a horse depot. After the Armistice, they were fortuitously reunited with at a polo match in Bagdad. In January 1924, Raggie was sent to Birdsall House, Lord Middleton's Yorkshire seat, where he lived a well-earnt life of comfort and ease, travelled to York once a year to collect money for horses and other animals in need
