South African Military History Society

Horse Memorial, Port Elizabeth


Photo: Ronnie Lovemore

Location
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
On the traffic island at the intersection of Cape Road and Rink Street.

GPS: 33 deg 57 min 43.79 sec S, 25 deg 36 min 31.83 sec E


Photo: Ronnie Lovemore


Photo: Ronnie Lovemore

Significance
Port Elizabeth was a major point of entry for British Army remounts during the Anglo-Boer War.
Mrs Harriet Meyer led the movement to raise funds for a memorial in recognition of the suffering of animals during the War.
The Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association of London contributed the design and commissioned the sculptor, Joseph Whitehead.

The Mayor unveiled the Monument on the corner of Park Drive and Rink Street in 1905.
It was moved to its present location in 1957 and declared a National Monument in 1983.


Photo: Ronnie Lovemore


Photo: Ronnie Lovemore

Inscriptions on the drinking trough on the front of the Monument are 

THE GREATNESS OF A NATION
CONSISTS NOT SO MUCH IN THE NUMBER OF ITS PEOPLE
OR THE EXTENT OF ITS TERRITORY
AS IN THE EXTENT AND JUSTICE OF ITS COMPASSION


Photo: Ronnie Lovemore 

ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION 
IN RECOGNITION OF THE GALLANT ANIMALS
WHICH PERISHED IN THE ANGLO-BOER WAR 1899-1902


Photo: Ronnie Lovemore

Other inscriptions on the Monument are 

INSCRIBED BY THE PORT ELIZABETH BRANCH
OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN AS
A TRIBUTE TO
HARRIET MEYER
TO WHOSE ZEAL AND INITIATIVE
THE CITY OWES THIS STATUE


Photo: Ronnie Lovemore

and 
ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION 
WITH THE ADDITION OF A LIBERAL DONATION 
FROM THE METROPOLITAN DRINKING FOUNTAIN 
AND CATTLE TROUGH ASSOCIATION LONDON

Note
To indicate scale,the British Army purchased approx 520000 horses and approx 151000 donkeys for their campaign.

Further Information
"Horses in the Anglo Boer War (1899-1902)" by Anne Irwin
"Horsing the British Army: Die Tweede Anglo-Boere Oorlog 1899-1902" by Graham Winton
"Animal Suffering and Sacrifices during the Anglo-Boer War - Veterinary Aspects" by Prof Jan Myburgh

South African Military History Society / scribe@samilitaryhistory.org