The Donkey Breed Society (Northern Region), The War Horse Memorial CIC and AWAMO – the Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation. We have taken our donkey to the Somme . . .
The Donkey Breed Society (Northern Region), The War Horse Memorial CIC and AWAMO – the Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation.
We have taken our donkey to the Somme . . .
On Saturday 12th September, over 200 guests stood in sunshine, at Le Mémorial des Animaux, Le Parc du Moulin, Pozières, France under a beautiful blue sky. It is the most poignant of places. In 1916 it was here and under very different skies that men from the armed services, together with the animals that worked alongside them, bravely encountered horrendous conditions.
A gentle breeze blew across the Somme as guests saw the unveiling of stunning silhouettes of a donkey and a horse and took part in a ceremony of rededication. The donkey was unveiled by Pam Moon, National Chair of the Donkey Breed Society, Patrick Kean, representing Donkey Breed Society Life Vice President, Rosemary Clarke and Olwen Brown of the Donkey Breed Society’s Northern Region.
Donkeys, horses, therapy and rescue dogs and pigeons took part in the Ceremony; animals having played vital roles in the war: horses, mules, and donkeys transported ammunition and supplies under fire, while dogs and pigeons carried messages.
The latest additions to the Memorial have been funded by members of the charity The Donkey Breed Society (Northern Region), The War Horse Memorial CIC and AWAMO – the Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation. Together with unwavering support from the Association Moulin Coeur de Patrimoine Pozières and Association Digger-Cote 160 they came together, remembered and honoured the service and sacrifice of millions of animals who lost their lives on the Somme in World War One.
Guest of Honour was Catherine Carnell of the Australian Sir John Monash Centre. The event was also attended by distinguished military and civilian guests from Australia, France and the UK including Captain Harry Grantham RHA and his wife Squadron Leader Helen Grantham, as representatives of The Worshipful Company of Farriers.
The Mayor of Pozieres, Mr Pascal Chalier kindly hosted a Reception after the event. Chelsea Pensioner and poet Roy Palmer (87) also attended and read his exceptionally moving poetry to those gathered; reminding us of the hellish conditions experienced by soldiers and animals alike. Olwen Brown presented Mike Lee, President of the Association Moulin Coeur de Patrimoine Pozières, who heralds from Australia, with a knitted representation of Simpson’s donkey.
Those animals that stood sentinel at the ceremony focused the mind during times of quiet reflection: Association APREAC brought horses, Escap’ ânes brought donkeys and there were also therapy and rescue dogs. At the close of the Ceremony, pigeons were released across the Somme, wheeling over the site before heading to the historical town of Albert.
The Battle of Pozières was one of the bloodiest and accounted for the loss of thousands of men, including those from the British 3rd and 4th Armies. It was however Australians that were most involved in the taking of Pozieres, suffering 23,000 casualties. Of their almost 7,000 dead, more than 4,130 were never found and still lay in surrounding fields. The battle lasted 41 days with victory to the allied troops.
The donkey and horse can be seen from the road and all the fundraising undertaken by the charities, the pennies that people have kindly placed in donation boxes, have accumulated in an everlasting memorial to all equines and indeed to all animals that served.
The Donkey Breed Society’s Northern Region would like to thank everyone who has helped them in their quest to install their donkey on the Somme for their support.
