Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig

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Earl Haig (1861-1928), the renowned military leader and co-founder of the British Legion, was born in Edinburgh, a city that celebrated his legacy even before his passing: this iconic statue stood as an Edinburgh landmark for over 85 years. However, it was removed earlier this year to facilitate access to and spectator space for the Edinburgh Tattoo, a spectacular annual military display held on the Esplanade. The statue is now undergoing restoration prior to relocation within the castle grounds, near the National War Museum. Haig's leadership at the Somme remains a contentious issue, and so does the statue itself. When it was proposed as an inspiration for a similar tribute in London, Adrian Jones made a veiled reference to it: "some sculptors attempt to copy nature directly, and that from a half-starved horse, with the rider sitting precariously as though a puff of wind would blow him off" (qtd. in Watkins 15). Lionel Earle, Secretary to the Office of Works in London, also expressed his objections, calling it "a dreadful production, although it shares many characteristics with him" (qtd. in Watkins 17). Wade's skill at depicting a well-covered horse is evident, as a model of one in his studio demonstrates. It appears that he aimed for greater realism here, but perhaps that was unwise in such a monument. The horse's legs are awkwardly splayed, especially from the front, and Haig looks uncomfortable in the saddle; the overall ensemble is strained. In the past, much was gained by viewing it against such a dramatic backdrop, but presumably that advantage will now be lost. The days of equestrian statues honoring heroes were numbered by this stage. After two earlier versions had been rejected, Alfred Hardiman's statue of Haig was finally unveiled in Whitehall in 1937; it proved to be the last of its kind.