Animals played a mighty role in the war even thought they aren’t highly recognised. Without them, many more wouldn’t have returned home.
The War Memorial in Canberra pays respects to those who risked their lives to protect their country and on the 90th anniversary of World War I, a sentimental monument was unveiled in Hyde Park, London by Princess Royal Anne in November 2004. This was made in memory of the animals that served, languished and perished alongside the British, Commonwealth and Allied forces in the war.
Australian horses that went to war were often referred to as ‘walers’. These horses were also given tribute at the monument. Of the 136,000 walers only one returned to Australia; Sandy. However the journey was not as simple as it was for the diggers, Sandy travelled from northern France to the Remount Depot in England. He was quarantined for three months and then was cleared of diseases. From Liverpool he boarded a freighter for two months until he reached Melbourne in November 1918. His inability to function gradually increased. In 1923, it was thought the best thing to do was put him down. His head and neck became part of Canberra’s War Memorial.
These four legged friends were definitely the true heroes of World War I.
Monument in London
