Michael Thomson Posted 11 February , 2019 Share Posted 11 February , 2019 (edited) Hello. I was wondering if there is any monument on the Somme or in Flanders honouring all the animals who died in the Great War? The war took an indescribably terrible toll in human life and there are many wonderful, stirring and fitting monuments to the countless young men who gave their lives all over the Somme and Flanders, but at the same time the war took a very heavy toll on the lives of animals too, particularly horses and mules. I was just wondering if there is any monument remembering these unwilling casualties? I know there was an organisation during the war that took care of the needs of horses (the Blue Cross if I recall correctly?). My wife and travelling companion is a huge animal lover and one of the things that upsets her is the thought of how many horses died-so if there is any such monument it would be nice to take her to see it. Thanks! Edited 11 February , 2019 by Michael Thomson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Thomson Posted 11 February , 2019 Author Share Posted 11 February , 2019 On a side note, am I correct in saying that the only cavalry charge of the First Battle of the Somme was undertaken by an Indian unit in an attack on High Wood? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithmroberts Posted 11 February , 2019 Share Posted 11 February , 2019 I think there are two. if your wife has good taste don't take her to Pozieres. Alternatively the animal memorial there might cure her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 11 February , 2019 Share Posted 11 February , 2019 the 58th (2nd/1st London) Division's memorial at (I think) Chippily, on the Somme, is in the form of a wounded artillery horse and its driver. 1 hour ago, Michael Thomson said: On a side note, am I correct in saying that the only cavalry charge of the First Battle of the Somme was undertaken by an Indian unit in an attack on High Wood? Partly correct. The 20th Deccan Horse and the 7th Dragoon Guards of the Secunderabad Brigade of the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division both charged at High Wood. The 7th DG were British. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AOK4 Posted 11 February , 2019 Share Posted 11 February , 2019 Isn't there a memorial with a horse in Vlamertinge as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Clifton Posted 11 February , 2019 Share Posted 11 February , 2019 (edited) 13 minutes ago, Steven Broomfield said: the 58th (2nd/1st London) Division's memorial at (I think) Chippily, on the Somme, is in the form of a wounded artillery horse and its driver. Chipilly, actually (sorry to nit-pick). I found it very moving. http://lfpcheval.fr/le-monument-de-chipilly/ Ron Edited 11 February , 2019 by Ron Clifton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 11 February , 2019 Share Posted 11 February , 2019 I don't know of one abroad or one specifically GW, but there is the Animals in War memorial in London (Park Lane). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 11 February , 2019 Admin Share Posted 11 February , 2019 There is also one in Couin, where the old water carts bottle fillers sign which older battlefields visitors will remember was Michelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pol Posted 11 February , 2019 Share Posted 11 February , 2019 There is a memorial (2014) with the name "Agony" at the roundabout on the road from Ypres to Vlamertinge. It shows two horses (or mules) rear up to the sky in agony. It was Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Thomson Posted 11 February , 2019 Author Share Posted 11 February , 2019 Thank you everybody for your replies- I was interested to see that there is indeed a specific memorial to the fallen animals of WW1 at Pozières... having Googled it after reading the comments I can only say that the sentiments behind erecting it are very noble even if the monument's physical form and layout isn't my cup of tea. It's good to know that on the Somme and in Flanders there are some acknowledgements to the memory of the animals that perished too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelcave Posted 12 February , 2019 Share Posted 12 February , 2019 The one at Couin, in the rear area of the northernmost part of the Somme battlefield, is far more tasteful (which, quite frankly, would not be difficult); several plaques on a wall with a restored - I assume - WWI painted sign on the wall above that directs water carts. I think it must have been up for about fifteen years, possibly a little less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilyne Posted 12 February , 2019 Share Posted 12 February , 2019 Michael, You talk about the Blue Cross... A way to show support for the animals lost in the war is the PURPLE POPPY... My sister wears it more than she does the red one and we even made a purple poppy cross for her on 11th November to put at the mascot's cemetery at Edinburgh Castle. I do agree with Keith... don't go to Poziere !! the best is till the one in Hyde Park, especially this one sentence just sais it all: "They had no choice!" M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 12 February , 2019 Admin Share Posted 12 February , 2019 There is also the carrier pigeon memorial at Fort Douaumont Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedley Malloch Posted 12 February , 2019 Share Posted 12 February , 2019 ... and a memorial to carrier pigeons (and to their keepers who were shot for keeping them) in Lille. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedley Malloch Posted 12 February , 2019 Share Posted 12 February , 2019 Horses and pigeons are well covered memory-wise. But sadly there are no memorials to the elephants conscripted onto the Western Front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 12 February , 2019 Share Posted 12 February , 2019 (edited) The monument in Vlamertinge (roundabout road Ypres - Poperinge) to which Pol and Jan (AOK4 referred to yesterday. Aurel Edited 12 February , 2019 by Aurel Sercu Sorry, I forgot the photo ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERITAGE PLUS Posted 12 February , 2019 Share Posted 12 February , 2019 Quote But sadly there are no memorials to the elephants conscripted onto the Western Front. The service of elephants, along with other animals, is remembered at the Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh Castle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Clifton Posted 12 February , 2019 Share Posted 12 February , 2019 5 hours ago, Michelle Young said: There is also the carrier pigeon memorial at Fort Douaumont Fort Vaux, I think, Michelle. Location of Major Raynal and his message "This is my last pigeon." Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 12 February , 2019 Admin Share Posted 12 February , 2019 I knew I would get it wrong Ron! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin DavidOwen Posted 12 February , 2019 Admin Share Posted 12 February , 2019 The purple poppy is actually a purple cornflower but often referred to as the former. Be careful as the originator's agenda has seriously morphed away from the original concept. A certain online auction site does have examples for sale which do support the original ideals and help wildlife charities into the bargain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 12 February , 2019 Share Posted 12 February , 2019 1 hour ago, Aurel Sercu said: The monument in Vlamertinge (roundabout road Ypres - Poperinge) to which Pol and Jan (AOK4 referred to yesterday. Aurel That is beautiful, Aurel! May I send the picture to a friend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurel Sercu Posted 12 February , 2019 Share Posted 12 February , 2019 seaJane, Of course. Here's one more. And if you want me to send the higher resolution original, let me know in a PM.. (This one approx. 1MB, the first one approx. 2 MB). Aurel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Thomson Posted 12 February , 2019 Author Share Posted 12 February , 2019 Thank you to everybody for your replies! That photo of the monument in Vlamertinge is beautiful. It conveys the motion of a rearing, panicking horse very accurately and fits with the title 'Agony' very convincingly. We will do our best to visit the memorial at Couin, so thank you for telling me about it. I was interested and surprised to see the Elephant in the photo. I gather he/she was a mascot? There is a fairly well known photograph of a Springbok (called Nelly or Nancy I believe?) with a South African soldier just before or after the fighting at Delville Wood and another of a Baboon...both were mascots if I'm not mistaken. It was definitely not the right place for any animal to be. The line "they had no choice" is an extremely fitting way of describing the position of the many millions of animals who suffered in the Great War. Sadly the very same words describe the predicament of so many millions of young men in that same conflict too. The Purple Poppies are an interesting concept and I'd not heard of them before... I'll look into it. Hopefully that initiative did some good - even if it did diverge from its original purpose as was indicated above. PS: the second photo of the horse memorial is very beautiful. A very modern design but so expressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelcave Posted 12 February , 2019 Share Posted 12 February , 2019 5 hours ago, HERITAGE PLUS said: The service of elephants, along with other animals, is remembered at the Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh Castle. Quite: also featured on it are canaries, with reference to their use by tunnelling companies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 12 February , 2019 Share Posted 12 February , 2019 Thanks Aurel - I will send him the second one you posted. I'm very much obliged to you! sJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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