The War Horse Memorial – Made in Scotland
Men and their horses from all corners of Scotland went to fight in WW1. Their sacrifice is well documented and history has shown that they served with honour and distinction. However, there has never been a national memorial dedicated exclusively to the millions of UK, Allied and Commonwealth horses, mules and donkeys lost during The Great War – until now.
The War Horse Memorial consists of a larger than life bronze horse standing on an inscribed stone plinth. At the foot of the horse significant WW1 artefacts, gathered from all corners of the UK and afar, are placed in an authentic brass shell casing discovered on the Somme and locked away in an airtight chamber, adding greater poignancy to this wonderful epitaph. It pays tribute to the nobility, courage, unyielding loyalty and immeasurable contribution these animals played in giving us the freedom of democracy we all enjoy today. Although it was unveiled in Ascot, Berkshire, the connections with Scotland are strong and true.
The sculptor entrusted to create the magnificent monument is Susan Leyland. Her Great Grandfather Dr Charles Welsh, doctor and surgeon and Provost of Castle Douglas, served with the R.A.M.C (Royal Army Medical Corps) during the four years of WWI on the Western Front. Her ties and family connections to Scotland are deep and lifelong.
The foundry entrusted to cast the giant horse, which weighs 1.2 tons and stands over three metres high, is The Black Isle Bronze in Nairn. For almost six months the team worked under the watchful eye of founder and director Farquhar Ogilvy Laing. The strength of the company is its attention to detail in form and texture, combined with knowledge of classic and contemporary materials, allowing for cast sensitive work and quality finishing.
The War Horse symbolically has no shoes. The foundry cast four bronze horseshoes and these were gifted to the Lord Mayors of Cardiff, London, Belfast and the final shoe presented to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh by co-founders of The War Horse Memorial, Alan Carr MBE and Susan Osborne MSc FRSA atop the Mercat Cross in 2018 during the historic Edinburgh Riding of the Marches, to signify the contribution made by horses, mules and donkeys from all corners of the UK.
Read more on the War Horse Memorial website.
The Animal Purple Poppy Fund
Raising funds for animals in need
We are delighted to be working with charity The War Horse Memorial and their Animal Purple Poppy Fund as their Scottish distributor. The Animal Purple Poppy Fund Pin Badge is available between 1st June and 31st October and the appeal is raising funds for animals in need.
The War Horse Memorial, unveiled in Ascot, Berkshire in 2018 was named ‘Poppy the Warhorse’ and the Animal Purple Poppy Fund rose from this.
The Fund supports the following charities: The Household Cavalry Foundation; Mane Chance Sanctuary; World Horse Welfare; Brooke; Blue Acre; RDA Windsor and Ascot Driving Group, Royal Artillery Charitable Fund. We were delighted to work in partnership with the War Horse Memorial and the animal charity Blue Cross.
Along with national charity The Blue Cross, we are all working towards a nationwide fundraising effort and are distrbuting collection boxes of the emblematic Animal Purple Poppy Fund pin badges, offering businesses and schools the opportunity to display or join in our fundraising efforts. The Fund will be raising funds for animals in need today and in addition to the pets helped via the Blue Cross, the Animal Purple Poppy Fund will be supporting equine charities.
You can read more about the Fund here.
WOULD YOUR BUSINESS LIKE TO BECOME AN OUTLET FOR THE ANIMAL PURPLE POPPY FUND PIN BADGES IN SCOTLAND?
If you would like your business to become an official outlet or your school to join in the fundraising for the Animal Purple Poppy Fund please contact us. Your boxes will be delivered and all official outlets and schools will be listed on our social media channels as well as here on our website.