Gunner is so realistic that it had this Portuguese Lusitano stallion Ali Baba believed it was the real thing after the $220,000 bronze artwork was unveiled at Memorial Park.
Gunner is so realistic that it had this Portuguese Lusitano stallion Ali Baba believed it was the real thing after the $220,000 bronze artwork was unveiled at Memorial Park.
'When you go home Tell them of us and say, For your tomorrow We gave our today' - Epitaph found on numerous veteran memorials and monuments throughout the world and generally attributed to English poet John Maxwell Edmonds.
This was quoted by Hamilton Mayor Andrew King at the Armistice Day service and war horse unveiling.
Dr Ngapare Hopa (right) of Ngati Wairere who performed a Maori welcome and Noeline Jeffries, president of the Waikato Combined Equestrian Group and War Horse Board chair, after they helped unveil the statue. Photo / Peter Tiffany
Gunner, the War Horse statue unveiled in Hamilton's Memorial Park on Saturday, is a tribute to the many thousands of New Zealand horses that were sent to battlegrounds overseas, never to return home.
The 300kg bronze statue is the creation of former Defence Force artist Matt Gauldie and the culmination of much hard work and fundraising by a special War Horse Board formed by the Waikato Combined Equestrian Group and local arts trusts TOTI (Theatre of the Impossible).
Ruby-lee Jeffries, 5, granddaughter of Noeline Jeffries, ready to place a wreath at the new statue on Armistice Day. Photo / Paula Stuart
The president of the board, Noeline Jeffries, an acknowledged riding instructor and ESNZ dressage judge, spoke at the unveiling on the 99th anniversary of Armistice Day and the centenary of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles final campaign as Gunner was gifted to Hamilton and the nation.
She outlined the origins of the project when Rodney Martin of Masterton wrote of the need to remember New Zealand's horses of war. Noeline agreed and made contact with him and the War Horse project was under way.
Noeline Jeffries beside the statue. Photo / Peter Tiffany
"The horses of war suffered greatly and we owe it to them to remember their sacrifice. This statue achieves our ultimate aim," she said.
"Thank you for your donations and fundraising efforts. It has been a long and worthwhile journey."
Guests at the Armistice Day ceremony at Memorial Park before the war horse statue (background) was unveiled. Photo / Peter Tiffany
Sadly, Mr Marton died in September last year.
In accepting the statue on behalf of the city, Mayor Andrew King thanked all the forces of law and order that worked to create New Zealand as a free and peaceful country.
"We acknowledge the working horses who developed this country and built New Zealand before we had the machinery to do so. As well as to protect us, horse were used to transport and to build," the mayor said.
This young girl was the first person to try out the saddle after the statue unveiling. Photo / Peter Tiffany
"Through this gift we will remember what horses have done for New Zealand."
Ms Jeffries unveiled the statue with the help of Dr Ngapare Hopa of Ngati Wairere who performed a Maori welcome and Major (Rtd) Simon Marriott, president of the Waikato Mounted Rifles Regimental Association and former Squadron Commander WMR, and World War I historian Richard Stowers.
Labour MP Jamie Strange was keen to try out the war horse after learning people are welcome to touch and sit on the statue. Photo / Supplied
More than 8000 New Zealand horses were sent to the South African War (1899-1902) and another 10,000 to World War I.
Of all these horses only four came back from the Western Front and one from South Africa. The last, named Bess, died and was buried in Bulls in 1934.
At the unveiling Major Marriott spoke of the sad end to the war horses overseas.
Although many survived hardships and battles, logistics, costs and quarantine rules meant many thousands of horses were killed.
Hamilton City Cadet Corps took part in the war horse unveiling at this year's special Armistice Day civic service. Photo / Tom Rowland
Mr Stowers said it was a grim task with many tough troopers unable to put down their steeds - instead asking other soldiers to carry out the order.
Major Marriott spoke of the history of the New Zealand mounted units from 1869 to the present.
"At one time there were 12 mounted rifles regiments in New Zealand. Today there is just one, after the role was taken over by tanks and armoured vehicles," he said.
It was not until 1931 in England that the Brooke charity was set up with donations to buy and save former war horses.
Fred Pilling and members of the Waikato Heavy Horse association lead the parade with six Clydesdale horses and a World War I artillery gun before the unveiling. Photo / Tom Rowland
That organisation, now known as Brooke - Action for Working Horses and Donkeys - is still very active today as an international animal welfare charity dedicated to improving the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.
