Our story
After four years of hard work and planning, Poppy, our war horse, was unveiled to the public on June 8, 2018.
Watching on were hundreds of well wishers and families of old soldiers who fought in the Great War and who gave precious artefacts which have been buried at the feet of the national monument.
Brownie Jess Edwards and Guides Nisha Watson, Katherine Warner and Annice Anderson were chosen to remove Poppy’s giant purple mantle to reveal her majesty and magnificence. She was flanked by Chelsea Pensioners splendid in their scarlet coats, trumpeters from the Household Cavalry Band and flag bearers from the Royal Artillery and Life Guards.
Afterwards, the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, Mr James Puxley, laid a wreath on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen. Others were placed at the base of the memorial by many organisations and individuals, including representatives from America, Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand as well as the Royal British Legion.
The final wreath, made up of purple poppies, was laid by co-founders of the War Horse Memorial, Alan Carr and Susan Osborne, to signify the intention to use the flowers to raise monies for chosen equine and military charities. Poppy will stand for all time as a reminder of the service and sacrifice made in the First World War by millions of horses, mules and donkeys to help secure the freedom and democracy we all enjoy today.
First national memorial in recognition of vital part played in struggle to secure freedom
The War Horse Memorial is the first national memorial dedicated to the millions of UK, Commonwealth and Allied horses, mules and donkeys lost during The Great War. 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, and signifies the last time the horse would be used on a mass scale in modern warfare.
The War Horse Memorial is located on the major Ascot roundabout opposite Heatherwood Hospital and Car Park 1 of Ascot Racecourse. Postcode: SL5 8AA.
It consists of a larger than life bronze horse standing on a 3m high stone plinth created by British sculptor Susan Leyland. In essence it is much more than a memorial, as it affords the opportunity to create and expand on on-going fundraising initiatives, and become a lasting legacy for the nation.
Our emblem is a purple poppy which we consider fitting as it has previously been adopted to honour animal victims of conflict. National Animal Day, on August 23 each year will become an annual way of raising funds for our chosen charities.