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Animals In The Military
Featured Author:
Peter Padley
Former Warrant Officer Class One (Garrison Sergeant Major) Peter A Padley MBE
Served in the British Army from 1962 until 2000 as a member of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME).
Served with a variety of units including Parachute and Commando Forces on active duty and operations in many theatres around the world.
Former Parachute Instructor and founder member of 3 military Parachute Teams.
The use of animals for military purposes can be traced back some 5,000 years.
Horses were used to pull chariots and wagons and carry soldiers – better known as cavalry. Horses came in many different types and sizes and how they were used depended very much on the type of warfare. The type of horse used depended very much on whether it was to be used as a Cavalry Mount or for Reconnaissance, Raiding, Communications or Supply. Horses used for pulling artillery pieces date from the late 18th century. Two types of horse often forgotten for their loyal service in supporting the Army in the field, sometimes under very hazardous conditions, are the Mule and Donkey who were mainly used for transporting many types of supplies and munitions.
The manner of the warhorse was summed up by the poet Ronald Duncan in 1954 when he wrote ‘The Horse’:-
Where in this wide world can man find nobility without pride,
Friendship without envy, or beauty without vanity?
Here where grace is laced with muscle and strength by gentleness confined.
He serves without servility; he has fought without enmity.
There is nothing so powerful, nothing less violent;
there is nothing so quick, nothing more patient.
England’s past has been borne on his back.
All our history is in his industry.
We are his heirs;
He is our inheritance.
Dogs were used extensively by the Romans, Greeks and Britons in ‘ancient times’. The Molossian is the first recorded war dog to be used but they were outmatched by the mastiff of Britannia and eventually the Romans introduced the Mastiff throughout the world – as it was known in those days.
For their own protection dogs would be sent into battle with spiked metal collars and chain mail coats with the Romans employing dogs in attack formations.
The role of dogs in warfare has changed over the years and the following are some of the tasks they have been trained to carry out:
• Hauling heavy machine guns.
• Communications.
• Anti tank dogs.
• Retrieving wounded from the battlefield.
• Tracking and detection.
• Guarding installations.
CURRENT DAY USE OF ANIMALS IN THE MILITARY
Animals In The Military – Take the Knowledge Quiz
The 20th century, with the gradual advances in technology, saw dramatic changes in the way that animals are used in the military.
Machinery has replaced the horse and they are now employed mainly on ceremonial duties while dogs, until the start of hostilities in Iraq and Afghanistan, were in the main to be found assisting in the guarding of static military establishments. Since the invasion of Iraq in 2003 dogs can now be found working on operations in The Gulf area where their contribution cannot be over estimated.
The following paragraphs give an overview regarding the employment of animals within the current day Modern Army.
Horses And War
Dogs And War
The Dickin Medal and Mascots
