Yes, you're the veterans committee. Then you'll know that Field Marshal Haig, the British commander over all the forces, said to our General Currie, “I want you to take Passchendaele”. It was a spot of strategic importance in that it was blocking the way to the Belgian coast where we could use supply ships. Currie looked over the land....
You must remember that World War I very quickly became a stalemated battle. Guns pounded one another. They broke up the ground and they broke up the sewage lines, so World War I was fought in mud and crud—human waste. Currie looked over the land that contained great craters into which man and horse could disappear just like that. He told his commander that he could do it with his one corps, but it would be at a terrible cost. He was overruled in his objection and he went forward.
Here is the point. He inched forward with 20,000 men towards Passchendaele with the overhead—
Are there any service guys here? You know about an over-covering barrage, which goes ahead of the infantry troops and softens up the enemy.
They did it. They captured Passchendaele. They held it for five days until reinforcements came up, and then we discovered the accuracy of General Currie's words when he said, “Yes, but it will be at tremendous cost”. Out of the 20,000 who went in, 4,000 survived.
The point I want to make is that 90% of the ammunition that was fired by that creeping barrage to soften up the enemy was brought forward to the front hills by mules, and if that firepower had not been there, would there have been any survivors?
I relate the story to you because I think it is high time we had a monument dedicated to the animals that served our forces in war. This is a typical case in which our casualties would have been much higher. As a matter of fact, it was Field Marshal Haig who said that had it not been for our horses, our animals, we might not have been victorious in battle, and if that were the case, you would not be sitting here, nor would I be talking.
I know I cannot bring up the aspect of money. My project is costing $160,000. I'm $18,000 short. You may have received these little plastic cards.
If you go on to Animals In War Dedication, aiwdedication.ca, you'll find out what our project's about, and there are also ways through which you might make a donation.
I think my four minutes are up. I do thank you for your attention and I wish you all well.