The sculptures themselves are beautiful. The largest sculpture, the horse (as I believe horses were the main animals used during the wars), is depicted as willingly working in all it's might and strength. The expression on the dog's face is also very moving. Man's best friend is painstakingly innocent and naive but willing and positive in the way that dogs always are.
Beneath the main heading "Animals in War", the memorial has two inscriptions:
"This monument is dedicated to all the animals that served and died alongside British and Allied forces in wars and campaigns throughout time."
The second, smaller inscription simply reads:
"They had no choice."
The smaller inscription nearly bought me to tears. The monument is truly moving and inspiring. It is such a wonderful idea and the ethos and thinking behind it is to be truly commemorated. Although I felt such a sadness for the loss of the animals, I also felt a strong sense of happiness and pride in the monument being built. I think it is amazing that individuals (and a lot of them) have recognised and paid a tribute to the sacrifices that animals made during the war. Seeing this monument today restored some of my faith in humanity.
More information about the memorial can be found here.
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Thanks for posting this up. Great photographs. It is a beautiful memorial.
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