Dolly the War Horse

Donate via credit card or bank account

More than 10,000 Kiwi horses served beside our 100,000 service men, women and nurses during World War One, enduring the horrific privations that included sand in the Middle East deserts, mud and gore, gas and firepower, barbed wire and landmines on the Western Front.

OF THOSE 10,000 valiant horses ONLY 4 RETURNED to Aotearoa New Zealand. Dolly, Bess, Beauty and Nigger.

The plight of the animals that served is commemorated internationally on 24th February each year. Purple Poppy Day.

The day we celebrate the valiant service of the horses, the mules, the dogs, the pigeons and the cats that had to endure such horrible privations in alien and adverse conditions.

There has been little such recognition to date other than the statue of Te Utu in Hamilton and now it is time to right that wrong. Time to build a monument to acknowledge that, of the 10,000 plus horses that left New Zealand during World War One, ONLY 4 RETURNED HOME AFTER THE ARMISTICE in 1918. Major General Sir Andrew Russell’s mount Dolly was one, and she returned here to Tuna Nui Station at Sherenden, on the Hastings-Taihape Road. It is now time to bring her near to her much decorated master “The General” whose statue has already been alongside the Cenotaph in Civic Square Hastings since 2015, to graze in perpetuity as our grateful remembrance of the peaceful lives that we gained at their often supreme equine sacrifice on foreign shores.

After a distinguished command at Gallipoli that included his planning of the amazingly successful overnight evacuation from Gallipoli, Hawke’s Bays own Major General Sir Andrew Russell was knighted for this feat and was recalled to the Western Front in France where we understand he was united with his mount Dolly, the subject of our project of remembrance.

Dolly spent about 3 years on the Western Front culminating in the November 1918 New Zealand Division’s last major action of the war, the capture of the French town of Le Quesnoy. The New Zealanders scaled the ancient walls with ladders and took the German garrison prisoners. The town’s liberation was achieved without loss of civilian life or destruction of the ancient fortifications. The liberation of Le Quesnoy represents one of the high points of the war and the town’s residents have maintained close links with, and a high regard for New Zealand ever since.

Dolly and her 3 mates returned to New Zealand 1919 after quarantine in England and survived until 1932 we understand

We will revive the international day of remembrance for service animals by promoting February 24th each year as Purple Poppy Day, for the horses, the mules, the dogs and the pigeons that had to endure such horrible privations in such adverse conditions.

Dolly the War Horse Trust has now been created, has Charities Services status to raise funds for the project that has Inland Revenue Department approval for tax exemption to contributors to the Trusts activities. Our banking protocols are in place and our promotion of this great project is underway. The CV’s of the committed trustees can be seen on this sites contact page.

In addition to creating a bronze life-sized replica of Dolly the War Horse the Trust intends to fund opportunities for physically, mentally and socially disadvantaged children and young people to participate in equine therapy activities that would improve their wellbeing via Hastings Riding for the Disabled and the Leg-up Trust’s services.

We have been in consultation with one of who we consider is New Zealand’s premier sculptors and it is our intention to commission our statue of Dolly, undertaken by Matt Gauldie ex NZ Defence Forces Official Artist who sculpted the beautiful Te Utu War Horse statue in Hamilton.

Our target unveiling date is Purple Poppy Day 24 February 2026.

Please support our solemn and respectful project.

Lest We Forget, Kei Wareware Tatou.

Donate via credit card or bank account