Animals in War Memorial

[Monica]

I'm doing a paper on animals in World War I. I've been trying to find photos of the 'Animals in War' memorial in London that was reveled in 2004. I’ve found a few photos, one that was exceptionally good. I can’t seem to find very many photos of the entire memorial, or even any close-ups unless it’s of the pack mules. I can’t seem to find a good photo of the horse and dog at the back of the memorial, either. Does anyone know where I might be able to get ‘specifics’???

Oh, and for the paper, does anyone know how many wars, at least ones that have been recorded/documented, have been fought without the aid of animals??? It would be nice to know how many wars would have been won or lost without the aid of animals, though that is a much harder question to ask, even though I do know that many people have benefited from using animals in war.

I was supposed to have this finished last week though been having a bit of trouble finding specific information, and well been sick for the last two weeks (I get stressed, wake up not feeling well, go to school and get worse… ended up missing 3 days of school and came home on one day these past two weeks) and add to that, the other students in my class where the paper was due had two class periods to work on it where-as I only had one (due to home schooling then coming back to public school, and getting mixed classes). Due to having some problems at home (nothing family wise, just house wise…) and being sick I’ve fallen behind on work and need to catch up once again.

[Lynjupiter]

I don't know if this helps but check out Cher Ami. She was a carrier pigeon who saved many lives. http://www.homeofheroes.com/wings/part1/3b_cherami.html

I learned about her in the movie Last Battalion starring Rick Schroder

[Crebain]

Originally Posted by Monica

...does anyone know how many wars, at least ones that have been recorded/documented, have been fought without the aid of animals??? It would be nice to know how many wars would have been won or lost without the aid of animals,...

My guess would be zero.

[Crebain]

http://www.cpwda.com/k9_monuments.htm

2nd photo down from top?

Sculptors' name is David Backhouse, that may help your searches...

[Monica]

Lyn, Cheri Ami was actually a registerd Black Check cock, who saved the remaining troops of the 77th Infantry Division (or "Lost Battalion"). He saved their lives, especially from allied forces (who were bomming blindly at the enemies).

Crebain, "0" was my guess as well! Animals have been fighting wars for humans for centuries, so the only possible wars I can think of would be of ones between tribes (i.e. African, maybe Native American, and cave men! but of course these would be considered mere battles or squabbles).

And as far as the photo goes, that is THE only decent one I have found that I like! The others are too off center (memorial not displayed well) or there are other things that take the eye away from the memorial (such as a dog going down the steps).

[Peregrine Harlequin]

Originally Posted by Monica

It would be nice to know how many wars would have been won or lost without the aid of animals, though that is a much harder question to ask, even though I do know that many people have benefited from using animals in war.

I haven't a clue about more modern wars, so I can't help you there. But in other times....

In the 18th and 19th centuries battles would've been much different. Forget all the cavalry units, and artillery would've been a lot more valuable and harder to use properly. I doubt Napoleon could have marched across Europe if his troops had to drag his precious cannons by themselves.

We wouldn't have that romanticized image of a knight in shining armor sitting atop a powerful steed. I wonder how all those French/English wars would have turned out if the French didn't have their heavy cavalry to rely on.

England would probably be much different, as without the advantage of cavalry William of Normandy could have lost at Hastings in 1066.

Attila the Hun? Ghengis Khan? They would've lived out their lives in the middle of nowhere, and I doubt we'd even know their names.

I'm not sure the Roman empire would've been too different without animals. Unless, of course, you count the oxen they used to carry supplies for their legions. And would Hannibal have given the Romans such a scare without his war elephants? I doubt it.

We wouldn't have seen Charlton Heston in those chariot races in "Ben-Hur" if the Egyptians didn't use their horses to pull little battle carts (chariots).

For the most part I've left out the use of animals to carry supplies in war. And the ones that were herded along to be eaten.

Oh! Here's the best one! Without birds to fascinate us for millenia with their power of flight, would Man have developed machines to allow him to fly? It's a bit indirect, but without birds we wouldn't have dogfights and the Baron von Richtoffen (the Red Baron), the Luftwaffe, the battle of Britain, the Tokyo fire raids, Enola *** and the dropping of the first nuclear bomb, napalm, helicopters, and the "shock and awe" tactics of the U.S. military. So maybe you could argue that without birds and other flighted creatures modern war would be vastly different.

[Lisa B]

Elephants were used in east asia during the vietnam era.
they are using Camels in the desert as we speak in operation enduring freedom......... There has been animals is every war. mostly used to carry supplies, or troops. Wars couldnt be fought without them. Man power was for fighting, the animals did all the lugging, or used as forms of communication.

ignore my typos..getting used to a laptop

[Crebain]

War hero 'donkey man' remembered
By Julie Cush
BBC News

Private Kirkpatrick, of South Shields, and his donkey Murphy became household names when they rescued injured soldiers at Gallipoli during World War I.

Pte Kirkpatrick was born in South Eldon Street in the town in 1892 and his attachment to donkeys began when he was young and worked at a fair running penny rides for children.

He would then ride one of the donkeys the two-mile journey home and the animals seemed to respond to his kind and gentle manner.

As young man he joined the merchant navy, but deserted it in Sydney.

But when the World War I began, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in August 1914, where his subsequent actions more than compensated for the manner in which he left the merchant navy.

In 1915, Pte Kirkpatrick served at Gallipoli for just 24 days before he was shot dead, but in that short time he became a hero in the Australian Army Medical Corps.

Donkeys came to war with soldiers to be water carriers and Pte Kirkpatrick put his donkey Murphy to an equally vital use, transporting wounded men, day and night, through heavy gun fire in Monash Valley to the beach on Anzac Cove.

He saved the lives of more than 300 soldiers, before his death on 19 May.

He was 22 years old.

Animal honour

Although he was twice recommended for the Victoria Cross and the Distinguished Conduct Medal, he was never decorated for his actions.

However, his donkey Murphy was posthumously awarded a Purple Cross - the highest award available for animals - by the RSPCA.

In South Shields a bronze statue of Pte Kirkpatrick and Murphy commemorates his sacrifice, and there have been renewed calls for him to receive the VC.

Proud tribute

On Sunday, firefighters from the North of England and Scotland will parade their standards in honour of all war dead.

During World War II three fire fighters from Tyne and Wear area were awarded the George Medal for gallantry.

Other emergency services including the North-East Ambulance Service and Northumbria Police will also take part in the parade.

Event organiser, sub officer Arthur Lockyear, of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We are all very conscious of the losses suffered by the armed forces, the merchant navy and others 60 years ago and since, and we are proud to pay our part in this sincere tribute."

Private Kirkpatrick will later be honoured, along with other fallen comrades, at a service at St Hilda's Church in South Shields.

[Monica]

Thanks for all the info! I do believe I have the information that I was looking for origionally that I couldn't piece together myself, plus some!