Remembering Animals in War

Although Purple Poppy Day every February is a designated day of remembrance for animals who served in war, here at SPCA, like you, we remember animals year-round.

Animals are our constant companions who also come to our aid when we need them most. So, this Anzac Day, we will again remember the animals who gave their service – and their lives – alongside us.

Commonwealth and Allied forces enlisted many millions of animals during the World Wars. They were used for many different roles: horses and mules transported supplies to the front; dogs detected mines, dug out bombed victims, and acted as patrols to guard armies; and pigeons carried vital messages over long distances.

The examples of animal heroism and loyalty during wartime are endless, and memorials dedicated to animals who served are now popping up all around the world to honour what they have done for us. With this being a compelling subject for animal lovers around the world, we want to share some of the designated memorial sites where anyone can go to honour all the amazing animals who have been our invaluable comrades in war.

London, England

The ‘Animals in War’ memorial in London’s Hyde Park was unveiled in 2004. Built to commemorate the countless animals that have served and died under British military

command throughout history, the design features a curved stone wall to symbolise the arena of war, with images of various animals carved into its surface. On one side of the

wall, two heavily laden bronze mules progress upstairs towards it. On the other side, a bronze horse and dog look into the distance. Upon the wall, the words “they had no choice” are etched. It’s an incredibly moving site, stirring feelings of compassion,

gratitude and grief all at once. A must-see for all animal lovers upon a visit to the British capital.

Paris, France

A monument to fallen animals of war was unveiled in Paris in January 2024. Located in Square Boucicaut, a public park in the 7^th arrondissement, the memorial features metal figures painted in blue, the characteristic colour of French soldier in WWI. A soldier

stands alongside a horse, dog, pigeon and mule. Numbers of known casualties for each breed are cut into the metal, telling us war claimed 11 million horses, 100,000 dogs, and 250,000 doves. The mule has no number to reflect this unknown quantity from the history books. The unveiling was the culmination of a five-year long project led by Paris Animaux Zoopolis (PAZ), an association fighting for animal welfare, who took inspiration from the London memorial.

Canberra, Australia

At the Australian War Memorial in Australia’s capital city, there are numerous moving monuments to commemorate the animals who gave their lives for us in war. One has a bronze horse head in motion, with a side of the statue missing, as if bombed off. It stands atop a granite plinth at the height a horse’s head would naturally stand, encouraging visitors to interact with it as they would a real horse. It is a joint venture between the Australian War Memorial and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in Australia. Another bronze statue onsite is dedicated to dogs detecting mines, while another still shows a donkey modelled on real-life hero Murphy, who carried the injured and sick from the front lines at Gallipoli to the relative safety of the beach.

Waiouru, New Zealand

Our nation’s official place to remember animals who served is located within the New Zealand National Army Museum in Waiouru. With Mount Ruapehu in the background, a bronze horse head stands as a memorial to all the animals who gave their life to aid

New Zealand forces in war. Every February, a purple poppy service is held here to respect and remember these unsung animal heroes. A separate memorial, to Bess, one of the few horses to return to New Zealand after WWI, is located in Parewanui (southeast of Bulls).

A purple poppy can be worn as a symbol of remembrance analogous to the red poppy worn on Anzac Day. Some people like to wear both, to symbolise the close relationship

between service personnel and war animals and the importance of remembering both.

Purple Poppy Day is a reminder of how much animals have always given for us. With a gift in your Will, you are saying a deeply meaningful ‘thank you’ back to them. Your generosity will benefit countless animals and give them a better future. Thank you for your kindness.