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Princess Anne and Family

Princess Anne unveils statue dedicated to The Great War in Hampshire town

The First World War was one of the most devastating conflicts in history. Over six million soldiers from the United Kingdom fought in the war and contributed massively to the country’s victory. But it was not just the men who helped win battles – around 1.3 million horses and mules were involved in the conflict, and used as the primary means of transporting men and equipment. Man’s four-legged friends were honoured on Friday when The Princess Royal unveiled a tribute to the horses that died in the First World War, in the town of Romsey, in Hampshire.

A bronze resin statue, which depicts a soldier leading a horse was created by Amy Goodman and installed in Romsey’s Memorial Park. The statue cost £86,000 to build, £50,000 of which was raised by residents and members of the public. It was unveiled by Princess Anne, who is extremely fond of horses and a keen equestrian herself.

The creator of the statue, 40-year-old Ms Goodman, hails from Great Shoddesden, where she works as an equestrian artist and sculptress. She spoke of the statue before its unveiling, saying: “It will be the proudest day of my life. I very much hopes she likes it. I am quite overwhelmed by the plans for the day. I am so appreciative of everyone’s efforts in making all this happen, and I just hope I have done my job successfully to honour the fallen horses, soldiers and mules.”

Chairman of Romsey War Horse project and Mayor of the town, Dorothy Baverstock, was full of praise for Ms Goodman’s work, saying: “Her work is superb, and I am sure in years to come, Romsey will be proud to say ‘we have an early Amy Goodman.'”

Before unveiling the life-sized statue, The Princess Royal watched a military parade in Romsey’s marketplace. Her Royal Highness is Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, soldiers from which took part in Friday’s parade.

More than 100,000 of the horses and mules who took part in the First World War were passed through the Romsey Remount Depot, a military depot at the top of Pauncefoot Hill, Romsey. Horses arrived by train to the 500-acre site, where 2,000 members of the staff prepared them for battle before the animals were dispatched to the battle fronts. Accounts from the military depot were recently unearthed by Phoebe Merrick, a local historian. According to records, only 1 in 10 horses survived the war.

Featured Photo Credit: NHC_UHI via photopin cc