Murray Alexander of the National Boer War Memorial Association on North Tce. Picture: Roger Wyman Source: adelaidenow
THE horse in the Boer War memorial on North Tce would appear to "talk" to passers-by under plans for an audio system.
The system would tell stories of the first war in which South Australians fought.
The state branch of the National Boer War Memorial Association wants to install the audio system in a bollard next to the equestrian memorial, which stands at the King William St intersection outside Government House.
The association's Murray Alexander, who spent 35 years in the Army Reserves, said people would press buttons to choose from four narratives.
One would start with the horse introducing itself and its rider, whose head is thought to have been modelled on Boer War veteran George Henry Goodall, who would then talk about the role horses played in the war.
Mr Alexander said the horse character might neigh and snort to grab the attention of children and say something like: "I'm Thunder, my sire was Lightning, because you can't get thunder without lightning can you?"
"The horse telling a little bit of its story would interest a lot of people," Mr Alexander said.
Battle stories and accounts of conditions faced by soldiers in South Africa would be among the other narratives, which Mr Alexander hoped would be voiced by the likes of Governor Kevin Scarce, former Governor Sir Eric Neal and RSL state president Tim Hanna.
Mr Alexander last week fronted city councillors to ask them to consider funding the $47,000 audio system, ideally to be installed in time for Boer War Day on May 26, or at least in time for a reunion of descendants of veterans in September.
Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood said he liked the idea of "interactive" memorials, but it was likely consideration of funding for the project would have to wait until the 2013/14 budget process.
Unveiled in 1904, the Boer War Memorial is dedicated to the South Australians who served in the Second Boer War from 1899 to 1902.
More than 1500 South Australians and as many horses went to South Africa to help the British Empire defeat the Dutch settlers. At least 59 of the men perished.
It is estimated that 60 per cent of all the horses involved in the Boer War died in combat or from mistreatment.
The association is calling for descendants of veterans to register on its website, www.bwm.org.au, ahead of Boer War Day celebrations.
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