Milton, Nicholas The Role of Animals in World War One

How All Creatures Great and Small Helped to Win the Great War

In addition to the more than 60 million soldiers who fought in the First World War, 16 million animals also served and suffered enormous losses. Over 8 million horses died, as did tens of thousands of dogs, cats and pigeons. They lost their lives transporting artillery, rescuing the wounded, fighting vermin and delivering messages. Most died without recognition, but a few survived and became animal stars. Warrior, the happiest horse on the Western Front, became a horse hero; Rin Tin Tin, a German shepherd, was born in the trenches and later starred in over 30 films; Percy the cat served in one of the first tanks; and Cher Ami, a carrier pigeon, saved a US battalion from certain death. Other animals used in the war included baboons, bears, camels, donkeys, elephants, maggots, pigs, ponies, snails and even whales. In contrast to the animals used in the war, mosquitoes, lice and rats spread disease; in Salonika, more men died of malaria than from enemy fire. At home, many families kept chickens, rabbits or pigs, while elephants replaced horses on the roads and fields, pulling carts and ploughs. This book commemorates the role of animals throughout the conflict and tells the story of how all creatures, large and small, contributed to winning the First World War.