Horse Memorial

The Horse Memorial, located on the corner of Russell and Cape Roads, was erected and dedicated to the horses killed during the South African War (1899-1902).

It is an outstanding and famous piece of sculpture. The inscription on the memorial reads "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."

A drinking trough for horses and cattle form part of the memorial and was added to provide water to the animals but the water was never connected due to various reasons such as water consumption and cleanliness.

The Horse memorial was unveiled on Saturday afternoon, February 11, 1905, with the Mayor at the time, Mr A Fettes, performing the ceremony.

The statue was originally situated close to the junction of Park Drive and Rink Street, next to St George’s Park, but was moved to its present position in Cape Road in the 1950s as it was believed to be a traffic hinderance.