Horse Memorial
Encyclopedia
The Horse Memorial is a provincial heritage site
in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape
province of South Africa
, in memory of the horses that served and died during the Second Boer War
.
During that conflict Britain brought a large number of horses to South Africa; it is estimated that the total cost of all the horses acquired for the war was around 7 million pounds. More than 300,000 horses died in British service in South Africa.
The memorial was described in the Government Gazette
as
A ladies committee was formed with Mrs Harriet Meyer as president and £800 was collected for Messrs Whitehead and Sons, of Kennington and Westminster, to erect the statue.
The statue was originally located close to the junction of Park Drive and Rink Street, next to St George's Park
, but was moved to its present position in Cape Road in the 1950s.
The Mayor said in his unveiling speech:
In addition to the memorial proper, there is a drinking trough for horses and cattle, and the wants of the thirsty wayfarer are also provided for. The design as a whole is an object lesson in kindness, and may appeal to the cruel or careless driver, and teach him that there are some who do not think it beneath them to attend to the wants of animals placed under their charge.
The inscription on the base reads:
Provincial heritage site (South Africa)
A provincial heritage site is a building or place in South Africa that has historic or cultural importance and enjoys certain legal protections. These are under the management of provincial governments, as opposed to national heritage sites which are administered by the national government.-See...
in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
province of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, in memory of the horses that served and died during the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
.
During that conflict Britain brought a large number of horses to South Africa; it is estimated that the total cost of all the horses acquired for the war was around 7 million pounds. More than 300,000 horses died in British service in South Africa.
The memorial was described in the Government Gazette
Government Gazette of South Africa
The Government Gazette is the Gazette of record of South Africa. It is the "official organ of Government". University of Cape Town, The Government Gazette is used by the government as an official way of communicating to the general public....
as
History
One of the principal reasons for Port Elizabeth taking such an interest in the movement, which started in 1901, was the fact that most of the horses brought to this country were landed here. The horses were shipped from all over the world, including 50,000 from the United States and 35,000 from Australia.A ladies committee was formed with Mrs Harriet Meyer as president and £800 was collected for Messrs Whitehead and Sons, of Kennington and Westminster, to erect the statue.
The statue was originally located close to the junction of Park Drive and Rink Street, next to St George's Park
St George's Park, Port Elizabeth
St George's Park is a multi-use park in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The park is the oldest park in Port Elizabeth and most commonly associated with the St George's Oval cricket grounds located within the park.-Features:...
, but was moved to its present position in Cape Road in the 1950s.
The Mayor said in his unveiling speech:
Design
The horse stands 16 hands 2 inches, and the figure of the soldier is life size.In addition to the memorial proper, there is a drinking trough for horses and cattle, and the wants of the thirsty wayfarer are also provided for. The design as a whole is an object lesson in kindness, and may appeal to the cruel or careless driver, and teach him that there are some who do not think it beneath them to attend to the wants of animals placed under their charge.
The inscription on the base reads:
See also
- Horses in the Second Boer War
- Horses in warfareHorses in warfareThe first use of horses in warfare occurred over 5,000 years ago. The earliest evidence of horses ridden in warfare dates from Eurasia between 4000 and 3000 BC. A Sumerian illustration of warfare from 2500 BC depicts some type of equine pulling wagons...
- CavalryCavalryCavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...