Entitled "Home Lad, Home" the exhibition tells the story of how the Remount Depot at nearby Romsey purchased, trained and transported horses to be sent into the battle fields of the conflict.
The Exhibition will be raising funds for the Romsey War Horse Memorial Fund by selling limited edition maquettes of the sculpture by Amy Goodman of a wounded soldier and his horse.
Paintings by Lucy Kemp-Welch and Lady Butler, who was Female War Poet Alice Meynell's sister, are featured in the exhibition.
A little known fact (so far) is that The Times reported that there were three Remount Depots in the UK during WW1 that were run entirely by women. In the 1901 Census three women were listed as veterinary surgeons and there were some 300 women assistant farriers as well. The First World War was the first conflict which had a properly trained veternary service with ambulances behind the lines especially to treat horses.
The exhibition sounds wonderful and I should love to go and see it. Sadly, it will not be touring the UK during the commemorative years - a great pity.
For further information, and to find out more about the Romsey War Horse Memorial Fund go to www.stbarbe-muscum.org.uk
Source: The Times, March 8 2014, p. 80 and St. Barbe Museum and Art Gallery Facebook Page
Painting by Lucy Kemp-Welch via Google Images.
