The animals that served in the first world war – in pictures

The Guardian ^ | September 12, 2014

[NYer]

During the first world war millions of animals were used for transport, to carry vital communications and as companions to the troops. This week, the PDSA posthumously awarded an honorary Dickin Medal – the ‘animal VC’ – to the horse Warrior, on behalf of all the animals involved. Warrior served throughout the whole campaign with General Jack Seely, surviving machine-gun attacks, shells and the mud of Passchendaele.

One of the millions of horses used during the course of the war is winched ashore at Thessaloniki, Greece. Photograph: Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis

Dogs were often used by the British army to pull machine guns. Photograph: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images

Italian soldiers with their rescue dogs. Photograph: Comando Supremo, Italian Army

French Moroccan troops head to the front with supply wagons pulled by donkeys. Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis

German soldier and horses, both equipped with gas masks. Photograph: Corbis

Indian troops with the British army wash camels in the sea off Rafa, Palestine. Photograph: Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis

[NYer]

Ping!

[GreyFriar]

Thank you

[Snowyman]

This week, the PDSA posthumously awarded an honorary Dickin Medal – the ‘animal VC’ – to the horse Warrior, on behalf of all the animals involved. Warrior served throughout the whole campaign with General Jack Seely, surviving machine-gun attacks, shells and the mud of Passchendaele.

'Men would say not "Here comes the general" but "Here's old Warrior".

The tale of War Horse has gone from beloved children's book, to successful stage play to Hollywood movie directed by Steven Spielberg.

But whereas this one equine hero's exploits are fictional those of Warrior who carried General Jack Seely of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade throughout the horrors of World War I are all true. Trusty companion: General Jack Seely wrote a book about his time at battle with his beloved war horse, Warrior, who he called a 'courageous animal' Dedicated to the war horse: The charge at Moreuil Wood in 1918 was painted by Sir Alfred Munnings for General Jack Seely's book about Warrior. Seely with a thousand men of the Canadian Cavalry behind him decided desperate times needed desperate measures and set to gallop his men and horses across open ground to storm the enemy in Moreuil Wood.

[NYer]

The nature of war has changed but the animal heroes continue to serve. Honor the Dogs of 9/11

[IncPen]

The Canadian Parliament has a special remembrance for animals who served in wartime.

The Tunnellers' Friends
Object name Tympanum
Artist John A. Pearson
Sculptor/Stone carver Cléophas Soucy
Date 1927
Material Indiana limestone
Dimensions 104 x 204 cm

This tympanum represents the animals that served during the war: reindeer, pack mules, carrier pigeons, horses, dogs, canaries and mice.

Inscription: THE TUNNELLERS' FRIENDS, THE HUMBLE BEASTS THAT SERVED AND DIED.