# Cockbird — Memoirs of a Foxhunting Man character guide

> Cockbird in Memoirs of a Foxhunting Man by Siegfried Sassoon.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** old Cockbird

**First appearance:** 0003-i

## Snapshot

The narrator's most prized possession for forty-five months, a hunter who resents mobilization and dislikes being a trooper's charger.

## Who they are

Cockbird is sold to the Government for a perfunctory fifty pounds and picketed by a rope that already gives him a sore pastern, regretting Dixon and resenting the Army. He is Sherston's last tangible link with the peaceful past, and his welfare becomes the narrator's main anxiety amid the rumor-ridden early weeks of war. The horse's mute discomfort carries the book's grief for a world being requisitioned along with him.

## In the story

### [A Fresh Start](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_foxhunting_man_se/chapters/iii-a-fresh-start)

The horse Stephen Colwood rides to victory in the point-to-point race.

### [At the Rectory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_foxhunting_man_se/chapters/v-at-the-rectory)

The horse George purchases; performs well in hunting and impresses Dixon.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_foxhunting_man_se/chapters/iv)

New horse, docile railway traveler, well-bred, top-hole performer.

### [VI: The Colonel's Cup](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_foxhunting_man_se/chapters/vi-the-colonel-s-cup)

Sherston's horse, entered in the Ringwell Heavyweight Race and safely returned after the win.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_foxhunting_man_se/chapters/i)

The narrator's horse being prepared for the Ringwell Heavyweight Race, qualified through hunting with Stephen Colwood.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_foxhunting_man_se/chapters/ii)

The horse being trained for the Ringwell point-to-point; described as easy to handle and capable of jumping Aintree fences.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_foxhunting_man_se/chapters/iii)

George's horse, described as looking an 'absolute picture' and being playful.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_foxhunting_man_se/chapters/iv)

George's horse, which wins the point-to-point race.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_foxhunting_man_se/chapters/i)

One of the horses out at grass, contemplated by the narrator and Stephen.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_foxhunting_man_se/chapters/iii)

George's horse, brought along to the Kennels and stabled there.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_foxhunting_man_se/chapters/iv)

George's horse; runs in open point-to-point races, jumps faultlessly but lacks speed.

### [Migration to the Midlands](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_foxhunting_man_se/chapters/viii-migration-to-the-midlands)

One of George's new horses; a broken-winded chestnut that turns out to be a wonderful jumper.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_foxhunting_man_se/chapters/i)

One of George's new horses, a chestnut with a hard mouth, bought for thirty pounds.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_foxhunting_man_se/chapters/ii)

George's horse, ridden at Olton Gorse.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_foxhunting_man_se/chapters/iv)

Wins the Heavyweight Race at the point-to-point.

### [IX: In the Army](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_foxhunting_man_se/chapters/ix-in-the-army)

George's horse, now a trooper's charger, sold to the government; shows resentment at mobilization and separation from Dixon.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_foxhunting_man_se/chapters/i)

George's prized horse, now sold to the government and serving as a trooper's charger, later transferred to the squadron commander.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_foxhunting_man_se/characters/cockbird
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_foxhunting_man_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/memoirs_of_a_foxhunting_man_se/characters