Participation Trophies?

Lately, I've been disturbed by the trend of certain memorials to soldiers who fought on the losing side of a war being derided as "participation trophies." There once was a time when the "underdog" was rooted for and celebrated. I certainly focus on several "lost causes" in my historical fiction works. So, in case anyone has forgotten, let's look at some "Losers" in history and the monuments to them. In no particular order:

France

Since Napoleon, France has suffered many a defeat, but is certainly not lacking in memorials to those who answered their nation's call and served valiantly, even in the face of defeat.

Statues to Napoleon abound in Europe. His story is one that is complicated. A conquering dictator to many and savior out to smash old monarchies to others. His military prowess was undeniable and his tactics were studied for a century after. Yet, his martial genius was not enough and his army was defeated at Waterloo, some of his generals were executed, and he was exiled to the island of St. Helena.

One of the more famous monuments to Napoleon, the Vendome in Paris. It was torn down by Communists during the Paris Commune of 1871. When the military put the commune down, the perpetrators were jailed and forced to pay to repair the monument.

The Arc de Triumphe was originally imagined by Napoleon to commemorate his victories, he never got to build it due to his defeat. Those who wanted to acknowledge him and his soldiers finally built the monument in 1836.

Franco Prussian War monuments... hundreds were erected throughout France to commemorate the brave deeds of French soldiers who defended their country from the German advance in 1870-71. However, most no longer exist, having been toppled, smashed, and/or melted down by the Nazis in 1940-1942.

Japan
Japan suffered a civil war, The Boshin War, from 1868-1869 and also saw defeat in the 20th century.

The Byakkotai memorial in Aizu. The Byakkotai, also known as the White Tigers, were young samurai of the Aizu clan. When they saw flames during the battle at Aizu Castle and thought their leader had fallen, they committed ritual suicide. Their clan had been fighting Emperor Meiji, who was fighting to destroy the power of the Shogun and the system of the samurai that existed beneath it. This system included a cruel caste system, which allowed slavery and the execution of anyone of a lower class by someone of a higher class merely if they offended. Despite this, the Byakkotai went down into legend and are highly respected in Japanese history for their faithfulness and code of honor.

Monument to Saigo Takamori in a public park in Tokyo. Saigo is considered to be "the last samurai." A great commander during the Boshin War, he later turned "traitor" against the emperor when he decided to side with his clan, Satsuma, when there was a dispute over islands controlled independently by Satsuma that Emperor Meiji was demanding be ceded to the Imperial government. He died in battle fighting troops he once led.

A monument to Japanese pilots during WWII. Such as the ones who attacked Pearl Harbor...

Scotland

Scotland has more than its fair share of heroes who were unlucky enough to be on the losing side. And there's monuments to them, even though these individuals fought the British, who now rule over them:

Due to the movie Braveheart, just about everyone has heard of William Wallace, the Scottish leader who was a traitor against the English crown and fought a bloody war for Scotland's freedom--which they never truly got. There is a statue to him in Aberdeen.

The memorial at Flodden Field. The Battle at Flodden Field was another attempt, one very ill planned, for Scotland to free itself from England. Most of the Scottish clan leaders were killed as well as a good percentage of the population  nearby.

The Hornshole monument in Hawick. A year after the tragedy at Flodden Field, where most the adult men of Hawick had been killed, a group of youth got word of English troops camped nearby and attacked. While they won this small skirmish and managed to capture the English flag, I decided to note the statue as it is interesting that such a monument is celebrated as it shows a young Scottish soldier proudly showing off his trophy of a British flag. Can one imagine a similar type monument being raised in America, to say the young Confederate victors at New Market?

Germany

While the German states saw victory after victory in the 19th century, they saw defeat in WWI and thankfully for the world, defeat in WWII. Yet, they still have monuments erected to the soldiers who fought.

A WWI monument in Reiterswiesen. At first glance it looks like a knight slaying a dragon, but on closer inspection, you can see a 20th century German helmet.

Monument to those who fought in both world wars in Speinshart, Germany. (I'm not advocating for this one, though since it is for both wars, I can get the "to the average soldier" meaning. As for ones to just WWII Germans, yes, they exist. In fact, there seems to be a number of German WWII monuments that honestly disturbed me, and I did not feel like posting. There are several in Schweinfurt and another in Weinheim, if you are so inclined to search for yourself.)

Ireland
The struggles of Ireland against England went on for centuries, with many failed wars. (Including the Irish siding with the Germans during WWI.) They did not receive their independence until after WWI when powerful countries decided it a good idea to release their colonial hold over other nations.

The Wexford Pikeman. Erected to commemorate the bravery of the Irish rebels who fought and died on Vinager Hill in 1798. It was the final battle of the Rebellion of 1798. Many of its leaders suffered horrible executions such as hanging, scourging, burning, and in the case of a priest, the rack.

United States

The United States has not always come out on top. There have also been people and cultures within her borders who have fought rebellions or to preserve their way of life. I'll leave out the most obvious but here are some more to think about:

In South Dakota, near Mount Rushmore, a giant statue of Crazy Horse is being built. Crazy Horse was an Ogalala Sioux chief, most famous for his defeat of General George Custer at the Battle at the Little Bighorn. However, he did not savor victory long as he was pursued that winter by the US cavalry. Up against a wall, he had earlier joined forces with other Sioux tribes such as the Cheyenne, to defeat Custer, and he decided he needed to go on without them. He abandoned anyone who was not Ogalala to the cavalry. Feeling betrayed, the other chiefs turned on Crazy Horse and aided the cavalry in his capture and strange execution. Other monuments to other American Indian chiefs and tribes dot the American West.

The Fenians. How many have heard of the Fenian Uprising of 1865-1867? Former Irish Americans who had served in the Union Army during the War Between the States had hoped the Federal Government would repay them for their loyalty and sacrifices and help free Ireland. When it was clear this was never going to be the case, they planned to invade Canada, take the colony hostage, and demand Ireland's independence. It failed... miserably. Still, there are many songs and proud cheers for the Fenian rebels, as well as several markers including this at the base of a giant Celtic cross in a cemetery in Queens, New York.

The Vietnam Memorial in Washington D. C.

Need I say more?

No man is perfect. But men who were generally good by the standards and culture of the their time and place, and who did honorable deeds, are definitely worthy of  monuments raised around the world in their honor. And in some other cases, I believe these mementos in stone and bronze to be an important marker on the landscape to tell of the deeds, good and bad, of mankind over time.

Text (c) S.H. Ford 2017