International salute to animals of war and their contribution in fight for freedom
Sergeant Kristopher McCarthy and Clydesdale Bunny, centre, lead the Mounties’s salute in Toronto to animals who served in war.
Millions of animals died in conflict and their contribution in the fight to secure peace and democracy has not been forgotten. Tributes were staged in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK on International War Animal Day, February 24.
Pets and people wore purple poppies, special flags were flown and candles lit to reflect on the service and sacrifice of horses, mules, donkeys, camels, dogs, cats, pigeons and canaries whose lives were lost over two world wars and other conflicts.
Over 16 million animals served during World War One alone. They were used for transport, communication and companionship. Horse and camel-mounted troops were used in European and desert campaigns. Horses, donkeys, mules and camels transported food, water, ammunition and medical supplies to soldiers at the Front. Dogs and pigeons carried messages, canaries were used to detect poisonous gas and cats and dogs were trained to hunt rats in the trenches.
Giant turtle George shows off his outfit of purple poppys, to Mandy Hicks, who made it, at Cotswold Wildlife and Gardens in Oxfordshire
In the UK, Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens, which last year hosted the inaugural International War Animal Day, was again a stage for commemorations. Bactrian camels, Petra and Century, donned knitted purple poppy covers on their distinctive humps. Giant tortoise George, last year’s pin up boy, came out of his shell once again to show his support.
In Peterborough, poet and Chelsea pensioner Roy Palmer joined by best friend Sandra Kettlewell, lit purple poppies to remember. In Sussex, Cuckfield Parish Council flew an official flag over the Queen’s Hall and in nearby Holy Trinity Church, candles were lit.
Patrick the celebrity and therapy pony led tributes in the North Devon village of Cockington, where he is honorary Mayor. Shetland ponies like Patrick were used during the First and Second World Wars to deliver coal from the mines to power the munition factories.
Patrick, a Shetland therapy pony, with owner Kirk Patrakis and friends in Cockington.
Ellie Griffiths, who lives in Ireland and at 95 is The War Horse Memorial’s most senior ambassador, pays her respects with Margaret Carr, wife of co-founder Alan, by our Memorial in Ascot.
Bactrian camel Petra, not to be outdone by giant turtle George, a fellow resident at Cotswold Wildlife and Gardens, wears her purple poppy coat with pride.
Alan Carr, left, and Ambassador Michael Thompson, lay wreaths at the foot of The War Horse Memorial in Ascot. Alan is one of our co-founders
At 11am the focus moved to Ascot, in Berkshire, home of Poppy our War Horse Memorial, where co-founder Alan Carr MBE and Honorary President, Michael Thompson, laid wreaths at the feet of the magnificent bronze monument on behalf of all animals lost to war.
Further afield, members of South Australia Police were proud to be in attendance at the West Croydon/Kilkenny RSL [Returned and Service League of Australia] Club, where Police Dog Harriet and Police Horse Adelaide were each presented with a purple poppy coat, kindly donated by the volunteers at the Uraidla Country Women's Association.
International War Animal Day was chosen as fitting to reward two retired military service dogs with Distinguished Service Awards. Manic, who went from pound puppy to decorated combat veteran, was honoured at the Australian War Memorial. Combat assault dog Manic received the inaugural Australian Animal Distinguished Service Award in recognition of the six years he served in the Australian Defence Force.
The Belgian Malinois began his life in the pound destined for the Royal Air Force before being sold to the Australian Defence Force for $8 where he became known as the ‘the $8 dog’. Manic served with the 2nd Commando Regiment, Special Operations Command Australia, which included deployment in the Middle East providing mission assistance to Australian training teams and support of multiple coalition forces. He is still doing his bit in retirement, now working as an ambassador for military working dogs by supporting various returned service leagues and charity organisations.
Fellow retired combat assault dog, Aslan, also received the prestigious award. He dedicated six years to serving with the 2nd Commando Regiment, Special Operations Command Australia, but his service was in the USA. After surviving a battle with cancer, he now dedicates his retirement to raising awareness of the severe impact of this disease on canines and promotes health practices for all dogs.
The Australian Animal Distinguished Service Award was established by our good friends at the Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation (AWAMO) to recognise the outstanding actions, deeds or service of individual animals to the community.
AWAMO president Nigel Allsopp said getting the award set up had been a long process, but after seeing Australian animals issued Commonwealth awards overseas — like the UK's Blue Cross Award — the organisation felt Australia should have one of its own.”
In Canada, the Mounties in Toronto remembered 19 of their horses who were sent to battle in the First World War. Only one survived. The others succumbed to either shrapnel and gunfire, gas and barbed wire, exhaustion, disease or deep mud. Constable Matthew Scarlino of the Mounted Unit explained: “During that war, dozens of Toronto Police officers enlisted in the Armed Forces and the Mounted Unit sent 19 horses to serve in the Canadian Field Artillery.
“A Canadian 18-pounder field gun, the standard artillery piece, was pulled by a team of six horses in pairs with a driver riding on the near side horse of each pair. The team would tow an ammunition cart with gunners on top and the field gun.
“At that time, horses were the most manoeuvrable and mobile asset on the battlefield. A total of 81,000 horses were employed by the Canadian government in the war effort but only a fraction survived. Even fewer were returned to Canada.
“Critically injured horses were mercifully shot by officers who spared their own riders the tragic duty of doing so. But their sacrifice was not in vain. The artillery our horses pulled provided firepower and cover when our troops advanced and their fire would stem the flow of the enemy when they attacked. Their service saved countless Canadian lives.
"Only one horse, Bunny, defied alll the odd and survived. He was strawberry roan in colour with white socks on his hind legs and he had long ears. In four years of war, Bunny carried his riders through hell. One of them was killed, another – our own Mounted Unit Constable Thomas Dundas – was wounded three times. Dundas was also the most decorated Toronto Police officer to serve in the war. There is no doubt that Bunny helped him achieve these deeds and his bravery should also be remembered.
“For our war horses, sadly there was no happy ending. We are forever in their debt and we owe them our gratitude.They were never able to return Bunny home because the horse did not belong to a senior military officer and he was sold to the Belgian government, despite outcry from the mayor and citizens."
The Mounted Unit maintains a horse named Bunny, a Clydesdale, in remembrance of their war horses who is pictured at the top of the page.
In New Zealand, distinguished service medals were awarded posthumously to two special military dogs. Their handler Corporal Regan Blogg of the New Zealand Defence Force explains why.
Chuck, a workaholic spaniel.
"Chuck and Yardley deployed to Afghanistan on Crib21 [Task force in New Zealand Defence Force’s Provincial Reconstruction Team]. When the Kiwi contingent heard they were getting dogs attached to them, they expected to see German Shepherds or similar not a Springer Spaniel and a Labrador. Little did they know how much heart and drive these two dogs had. Chuck the spaniel was always the more energetic one and the troublemaker of the two. He had huge amounts of drive to do his job and was extremely good at it. Chuck picked up the nickname of ‘Little Pocket Rocket’ within the contingent, once they had seen his drive and ability.
"One moment stands out with Chuck. We were doing a search of a compound and it was like watching a bee fly around. He was so fast and small he was darting and skidding everywhere, at times overshooting a scent hitting the brakes and rolling to scoot back around.
“During our search we had completed upstairs and were returning downstairs. I can still see it now, he took a tumble, rolled and flipped all the way down. I thought he was seriously injured the way he lost his footing. Nope, not Chuck. He rolled to the bottom and stood up and shook himself off and carried on, I remember kneeling down to pat him and it was good as gold.
"Yardley and Chuck had opposite personalities but were best buddies, Yardley was a bit sulkier and depressing at times and Chuck was very much the opposite. He was excitable and energetic. When we were having down time, they would free run around the kennels with me.
"Chuck loved his pats and cuddles, I treated the two of them like family over there and we grew very close with one another. Depending on one another during work, I would rely on them and their noses to keep myself and the rest of the patrol safe, if only they truly knew the sacrifice and the good work they were doing.
"Once we returned to New Zealand the pair had to be separated after quarantine and Chuck was assigned a new handler. Then retirement came for him with Major Gabrielle Gofton, NZDF. Chuck passed away in August 2024.
Search dog Yardley was deployed to Afghanistan.
"Yardley was to deploy to Afghanistan to support other NZ soldiers on patrol. He was a soft and sensitive dog but was extremely driven to search. Yardley had a reputation to be accident prone, ranging from injuring his foot with a cut and eating rat poison resulting in a spell at the vets in Bagram.
“When the returned home, Yardley and Chuck went to quarantine and Chuck was assigned a new handler, Yardley remained with me. We were together until I left the military and some years went by before Yardley was retired to me and my family. Sadly, Yardley passed away due to cancer.
“I am both proud and consider it a huge honour to have worked with such wonderful dogs who are so deserving of this prestigious medal awarded on International War Animal Day.”