A powerful and moving tribute to all the animals that served, suffered and died alongside the British, Commonwealth and Allied forces in the wars and conflicts of the 20th century, stands on the edge of Hyde Park in London.

The trustees of The Animals in War Memorial Fund erected the memorial at Brook Gate, Park Lane, London in 2004. It was unveiled by HRH The Princess Royal in November of the same year on the 90th anniversary of the start of World War I.

The £2 million needed to build the monument on such a superb Central London site came from a national appeal and the generosity of many individual donors, charities and companies.

Created by renowned sculptor David Backhouse FRBS, RWA, FRSA. The monument is constructed in Portland stone and cast bronze.

Standing 17.68m wide and 16.76m deep, the memorial has a strong visual impact, both from distant and close views.

The sculptor has designed the monument in order to involve visitors and to attract people to enter it and become personally informed about the subject.

The Symbolism of the Design

There are three principal elements in the design; two different levels and a dominating and powerful wall between them.

On the lower level, two heavily laden bronze mules struggle through an arena, enclosed by the dominant wall symbolising the war experience. The mules approach a flight of steps that leads through the wall.

Beyond the wall, on the upper level, a bronze horse and dog stand facing north into the gardens, bearing witness to the loss of their comrades and representing hope for the future.

The Wall

Images of the many different animals used in 20th century conflicts are depicted in bas-relief on the inside of the longer section of wall. On the outside of this wall a line of ghostly silhouettes is carved, representing the animals lost in the conflicts.

Inscriptions

There are inscriptions on both sides of the shorter section of wall, including the name of the monument and information about theatres of war and the numbers of animals lost.

The names of major donors are carved on the outside of the longer section of wall.

Animals in war

Many millions of animals served and often died alongside the British, Commonwealth and Allied forces during both world wars and they continue to play an important role to this day.

These animals were chosen for a variety of natural instincts and tenacity.

Horses, Mules and Donkeys

Eight million horses and countless mules and donkeys died in the First World War where they were used to transport ammunition and supplies to the front and many died, not only from the horrors of shellfire but also in terrible weather and appalling conditions.

Mules were found to have tremendous stamina in extreme climates and over the most difficult terrain, serving courageously in the freezing mud on the Western Front and later at Monte Cassino in World War II.

Equally they toiled unflinchingly in the oppressive heat of Burma, Eritrea and Tunisia. There are many inspiring and often tragic stories of the great devotion and loyalty shown between horses, mules and donkeys and their masters during some of the bloodiest conflicts of the 20th century, as can be read in Jilly Cooper’s moving book Animals in War, published by Corgi.

Dogs

The dog’s innate qualities of intelligence and devotion have been valued and used by the forces in conflicts throughout the century.

Among their many duties, these faithful animals ran messages, laid telegraph wires, detected mines and IED’s, dug out bomb victims and acted as guard or patrol dogs.

Many battled on despite horrific wounds and in terrifying circumstances to the limit of their endurance, showing indomitable courage and supreme loyalty to their handlers.

Pigeons

More than 100,000 pigeons served Britain in the First World War and 200,000 in World War II. They performed heroically and saved thousands of lives by carrying vital messages, sometimes over long distances, when other methods of communication were impossible.

Flying at the rate of a mile a minute from the front line, from behind enemy lines or from ships or aeroplanes, these gallant birds would struggle on through all weathers, even when severely wounded and exhausted, in order to carry their vital messages home.

Other Animals

Elephants, camels, oxen, bullocks, cats, canaries, even glow worms — all these creatures, great and small, contributed their strength, their energy and their lives in times of war and conflict to the British, Commonwealth and Allied forces during the 20th century.

This Memorial is a fitting and lasting tribute to them all.

More information

Animals in war website

A small devoted dog rests in peace near his owner’s grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh.

Albumen print of Greyfriars Bobby, about 1865, from the collection of the National Galleries of Scotland

Greyfriars Bobby was a Skye Terrier who belonged to John Gray, a night watchman for the Edinburgh police during the late 1800′s.

When John Gray died in 1858, it is reported that his faithful companion, Bobby, spent his days sitting by his masters grave until the day he died, fourteen years later.

Local accounts say that the little dog would wander over to the nearby restaurant for his food.  This building still exists and is now called Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar.

In 1867, an act was passed, stating that any dog without an owner should be destroyed. His licence was kindly renewed by the director of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Sir William Chambers.  As a result, Greyfriars Bobby became the responsibility of Edinburgh City Council.

In 1872, fourteen years after his owner’s death, Bobby died but could not be buried with his owner on the consecrated ground, so little Bobby was buried just inside the gates of Greyfriars Kirkyard, not far from John Gray’s grave.

A commemorative statue and fountain were erected at the southern end of the George IV Bridge, commissioned by Lady Burdett-Coutts.

Greyfriars Bobby has been the inspiration for books and films, based on his life;

Greyfriar’s Bobby – a novel by Eleanor Atkinson

Greyfriars Bobby  – 1961 film

The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby – 2006 film.

Also of interest

Greyfriars Bobby website.

Greyfriars Kirk - Greyfriars Kirk is a church community in the heart of Edinburgh, Scotland. The church was founded in 1620 and has a fascinating history.

A private burial place in the wilderness of Freedom Hills, Alabama has now become a Coon dog burial site and tourist attraction.

In 1937 Key Underwood sadly buried his faithful coondog, Troop. They had hunted together and been close friends for more than 15 years.

Coondog Cemetery direction sign

The burial spot was a popular hunting camp where coon hunters from miles around gathered to plot their hunting strategies, tell tall tales, chew tobacco and compare coon hounds. Those comparisons usually began and ended with Troop…he was the best around.

Underwood knew there was no place in the world Troop loved more than that camp. It was only fitting, he decided, that Troop spend eternity there.

On that dreary Labor Day of 1937, Underwood said good-bye to his legendary coonhound. On a rock from an old chimney, with a hammer and a screwdriver, Key chiseled out Troop’s name and the date. A special marker was erected in his memory.

Out of one hunter’s devotion to his faithfull coonhound, was born the “Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard,” which has became a popular tourist attraction and is the only cemetery of its kind in the world.

Other hunters started doing the same when their favorite coon dogs died. Today more than 185 coon dogs from all across the United States are buried in this spot in Northwest Alabama.

More information

Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard

Coon dogs - Find out more information about Coon Hounds.

Nestling in a tranquil corner of the Low Gardens of Dalemain historic house in Penrith, Cumbria, is a delightful, small and understated resting place for all the pets of the house since 1931.

Woodland resting place for the animals of Dalemain.

The oldest of the graves belongs to Bunty, the children’s Cairn Terrier 1931 – 1941, with others belonging to Jack the Bearded Collie 1942 – 1956 and seven of the corgis including; Sunny, Bumble, Honey, Tim and lastly Barney all between 1945 and 1974.

Bunty, the children's Cairn Terrier headstone 1931-1941

Buried alongside the family pets are Heather the Fell Mare 1962 – 1989 and the well known black Fell Stallion Dalemain Nettle 1968 – 1989, whos prizewinning stock were renowned for their exceptionally good temperament. Owned and bred by Mrs. McCosh of Dalemain.

The Stallion, Dalemain Nettle on the right, running out with mares and foals

Above image courtesy of The Fell Pony Society