Found a photo of this in The Times of 31 December 1945 and another courtesy of M Campbell. Apparently it is no longer in Germany.
That's quite an impressive piece. Is it bronze ? The pose is not that of the XXX Corps boar so presumably 'liberated' from an existing local site ? It's rather triumphalist for a British memorial. I can imagine that it perhaps became a bit sensitive at a German location. As Philip says, where is it now ?
Didn't it end up at either Sandhurst or Camberley? Rich, the significance of the posture was that the boar was at rest having done its job (so I was led to believe).
Owen I looked for a thread, thought there was one too, couldn't find it. Rich, according to another site the interpretation was apparently the boar was now at rest ... Also states that the memorial is currently at Sandhurst.
This is from CLUB ROUTE IN EUROPE. The boar is at rest , job done. It also says it 'was acquired' I take that to mean looted ?
The caption to that vey same photo in Club Route reads: THE BOAR AT REST. HQ 30 CORPS DISTRICT GERMANY On December 15th on the eve of his relinquishing command of the Corps, Lieut. General Horrocks ceremonially unveiled in a square in Nienburg, the bronze boar acquired by Rear Corps at the time of the Rhine crossing. It had been mounted on a stone plinth, made by Corps RE, the design of which had been the subject of a competition, on which were engraved the battle honours 30 Corps in both the Mediterranean and European theatres together with the emblems of First Canadian Army, Second British Army and 21 Army Group. Symbolically it was excellent in that it effectively portrayed the end of the 30 Corps war effort with the famous boar no longer rampant but at rest after his labours and his long journey along Club Route. So it was a trophy (loot, if you prefer) - I'd missed that detail.
Of course, this is where I come back and say that it was obvious to me from the style of the boar that it was sculpted in central Europe. I'd guess that it's late 19th century and probably pinched from a posh hunting lodge. Bearing in mind that much of Germany was in ruins at the time, I'm not sure that there would have been the resources to sculpture and cast something like this.
I am sure that there is a mention in ATB that it was moved to Camberley.. possib;y at the Royal Staff College
Based on the statue of the wild boar in Florence. The Original Florentine Boar Porcellino - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Just about guess that this Boar was - aquired -procured - found - stumbled upon - by the Highland Decorators who joined XXX Corps at El Alamein after their re-instatement from 9th Battalion to replace their losses at St.Valery...not about to point a finger mind you as they were a tough bunch... Cheers
xxx corps, (30 Crops) insignia of the boar, hog, pig. I know when 30 corps started but I'd like to know about the emblem, insignia started to be used. The boar, known as the pig by most gunners, What are the roots of it? When was it picked and started use. Indeed when did they stop using it? Anyone? Cheers Chris
From the booklet "XXX Corps in Germany" it states "During the months before this crisis (referring to Rommel's attack in the early summer of 1942) 30th Corps had become an entity, developing characteristics and traditions of its own. It had acquired a reputation for aggressive action and a device symbolic of that aggressiveness - a Wild Boar rampant on a white field. It was the we'll-armed snout of this tenacious animal that plugged a dangerous gap in the Alamein Line, thus granting the army a respite and time to prepare for the great doings that began on 23rd October. On that day, when the Eighth Army began the offensive which ended Hitler's Austrian Redoubt, the Boar, head down and hackles up, pounded with the rest."
I'm sure I saw a photo on IWM website with a vehicle in the desert with the boar on it's mudguard, can't find it now & can't remember what vehicle it was, sorry.
