The Troopie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Trooper |
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| The Troopie | |
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The Trooper
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| Artist | Captain Michael Blackman |
| Year | 1979 |
| Subject | Rhodesian Light Infantryman |
| Location | Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England |
The Trooper, also known as The Troopie, is a special statue and a memorial for soldiers. It stands in the beautiful grounds of Hatfield House in Hatfield, England. This statue was first put up in Salisbury, Rhodesia (which is now called Harare, Zimbabwe). It honors the soldiers of the Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI) regiment.
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The Trooper Statue: A Journey
This section tells the story of how "The Trooper" statue was made and where it has traveled. It's a statue with a long and interesting history.
How the Statue Was Made
The statue was created by Captain Michael Blackman. He was a soldier in the Rhodesian Light Infantry. He based the statue on a photo of another soldier, Trooper Wayne Hannekom. The statue itself was made from 700 melted-down rifle cartridges.
Its First Home in Rhodesia
"The Trooper" was first put up on February 1, 1979. It stood in front of the Cranborne Barracks in Salisbury. Lieutenant-Colonel Ian Bate officially revealed the statue at a special ceremony. The band of the Rhodesian African Rifles played music for the event.
A Secret Journey to Safety
After the country's political situation changed, Rhodesia became Zimbabwe. There were worries that the statue might be destroyed. To protect it, the statue was secretly moved. Soldiers smuggled it onto a South African Air Force plane. It was flown to South Africa along with the regiment's important records. This happened before the RLI regiment was officially ended.
Finding a New Home in England
After its secret journey, "The Trooper" was displayed in the South African National Museum of Military History in Johannesburg. Later, it moved to the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum in Bristol, England. A copy of "The Troopie" statue is still on display in Johannesburg today.
Eventually, the original statue found its permanent home. It was installed in the grounds of Hatfield House in England. On September 28, 2008, a new ceremony took place. Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 7th Marquess of Salisbury rededicated the statue. A new plaque was added to the memorial. It says, "In reconciliation and hope for future peace in Zimbabwe." This message is placed next to the list of RLI soldiers who died.
