U.S. soldiers posing for a photograph in a formation to form the head of a horse, January 1919.

 U.S. soldiers posing for a photograph in a formation to form the head of a horse, January 1919.

This iconic and famous photograph was taken by the U.S.photographer Almeron Newman at the military Camp Cody in New Mexico.

It shows some 650 soldiers and officers from the U.S. 326th Auxiliary Remount Depot standing in formation to depict a horse's head.

This image and the soldiers within are often described 'paying tribute to the ~8 million horses which died as a result of the First World War'. However, it turns out this was likely made up.

In August 1918, the photographer Almeron Newman had taken an impressive photograph of some 16,000 American soldiers from the 34th "Sandstorm" Infantry Division forming the crest of their Division (2nd picture). 

This photograph went viral in the U.S. public, and Mr. Newman probably sought to capture more photographs of the sort - one of which is the one with the horse.

As can be read on the photograph, the 650 soldiers are forming the head of a saddle-horse called "The Devil", which was ridden by their unit's commander Major Frank G. Brewer. Information about this man and his horse are scarce.

The photograph was probably taken to honor that commander and his horse, and there's no further evidence to suggest the photograph was a tribute to all fallen horses from the First World War.

don't forget to leave your thoughts in the comments section below.