Along for the ride:

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

London's Horses



 "Still Water", bronze by sculptor Nic Fiddian Green
Inspired by his chestnut hunter, George
The Animals in War Memorial
Far right, below: "They had no choice"



It reads: Many and various animals were employed to support British and Allied Forces in wars and campaigns over the centuries and as a result millions died. From the pigeon to the elephant they all played a vital role in every region of the world in the cause of human freedom. 
Their contribution must never be forgotten.
The building of this monument was made possible by generous public donations.

Three police horses taking a water break, Hyde Park.

Riders along the banks of The Serpentine, Hyde Park

 The amazingly believable cast of Warhorse

My trip to back to the U.K. in September included a brief stay in London, which revolved around tickets to see WarHorse on the stage. The daylight hours were spent walking in, and around, Hyde Park, as I visited The Animals in War memorial and came upon the beautiful bronze of a horse at water nearby.

10 comments:

  1. I had no idea as to the number of horses in WWI that died until I read about it recently. So tragic.

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  2. Stephen, as it says on the Animals' Victoria Cross Medal;"We also serve"

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  3. I think you summed it all up with, "They had no choice."

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  4. A fitting tribute to those who had no choice.

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  5. Thank you for this beautiful post. Long ago I remember something my old grandfather recalled of WW1: "The worst thing was to hear the horses die."

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  6. Martin, I followed the fundraising campaign when the Memorial was first proposed. "We also serve" is a very fitting perspective. I'm glad that this came to be.

    Chef, I am sure that many a heartfelt partnership was forged in spite of, or because of, trying circumstances for all.

    Kerry, I hadn't meant this post to take everyone down such a dark path. I was pleased that humans got their act together and paid tribute. (When I lived in Northern Germany, I met an old farmer/horse breeder who told of riding his horse to Russia and coming back on foot)

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  7. Ah, horses! You're speaking my language. And what lovely pictures!

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  8. Frances,paraphrasing from "Other Nations" by Kate Barnes...They are other Nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time...We wish we could speak their languages; and, meanwhile, they learn ours:)

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  9. I recently went to a photo exhibit,"A Strange and Fearful Interest: Death, Mourning, and Memory in the American Civil War" at "the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens" in San Marino, adjacent to Pasadena. There were images of horses killed in Civil War battles that resembled those from the André Téchiné's WWII film, "Les Egarés." The combined memory of the two sets of images reminded me of your trip to the theatre in London.

    I like all of the photos that you have posted here from your trip. The public art is beautiful.

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  10. Ms. P. love the Huntington, as you know.

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