Stories of animal heroes

[Kjb340]

Hi,

I'm planning to feature some stories about the part played by animals in WW1 in our veterinary surgery monthly newsletter as part of the centenary year . Does anyone know any anecdotes or stories? I would rather have real stories than just descriptions of the general roles played by dogs, horses, pigeons, etc. Personal stories of the men on the veterinary corps would be very interesting too.

Thanks.

[museumtom]

Soldier’s Tribute to a Red Cross Dog.

“If it wasn’t for Spot

It’s as likely as not

I’d be facin’ the devil or God

For a lead speedin’ clean

Nailed me square in the spleen—

And my crimson was stainin’ the sod.

“I was out with a new

Reconnoitrin’ crew,

When the foe made a sudden attack—

And before I could yell

They were givin’ us ‘ell—

And I fell with a’ole in my back.

“When I opened my eyes

and gazed round in surprise.

With an oath tangled up with a prayer—

They were scattered around

On the stained stinkin’ ground

And their eyes ‘ad a fishy-like stare

“ And I waited from dawn

Till the daylight was gone-

Though I bellered and ‘ollered like sin,

Not a soul ‘eard my cry—

I was ready to die

And prepared to’and all my checks in.

“ I ‘ad given up ‘ope

And I started to grope

In despair, for my temples were ‘ot—

When I chanced to look’ round

There stood that old ‘ound,

That Red Cross mongrel called Spot.

“ Now, a lady’s fair face

May be shock full o’ grace;

But the snout of that grizzled, old cur

‘Ad it beat forty ways—

And the rest of my days

I’ll remember that angel in fur.

“well, ‘e needed no bid,

But ‘e snatched at my lid

And was off in a flash—like a shot

When at last I awoke

I was far from the smoke

In the ‘hos’ on a snowy white cot.

“ Now, I don’t keep a log

But the deed of that dog

Will for ever remain in my dome

If it wasn’t for Spot

I’d have started to rot,

And I’d never see Highland nor ‘ome. ”(

[David Ridgus]

Well I certainly can't match museumtom's contribution, so I will just make the far more prosaic suggestion that you acquire a copy of Richard van Emden's Tommy's Ark which is all about animals in the Great War. As with all of Mr van Emden's works it is chock full of anecdotes and reminiscences. I can't image you could not find what you needed within its pages

David

Edit: currently it's just over a fiver on Amazon - a snip

[Kjb340]

Thanks to both of you. I'll put the poem on the waiting room display we're planning for Oct/Nov and will order myself a copy of Tommy's Ark.

Best wishes,

Karen

[DaveBrigg]

Have a look online for the story of Cher Ami, the American pigeon that saved a battalion which was being hit by friendly fire despite having a leg shot off.

[seaforths]

On the home front there were circus animals taking the place of horses. Lizzie the Indian elephant in Sheffield:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-24745705

[Kjb340]

Thank you. I've googled Lizzie and Cher Ami and found a great photos to use as well as their stories. That's March and April sorted!

I'm currently reading Dennis Barnett's letters from the trenches am amazed that there were cats in the trenches. Considering what our cat is like on Bonfire Night I can only think those Belgian cats were made of sterner stuff.

Best wishes,

Karen

[Steven Broomfield]

Could I suggest that as animals don't have a human facility for rational thought, risk assessments, etc, the use of the phrase "animal hero" is an oxymoron. Animals cannot be heroes as they cannot predict the outcome of a given course of action. To consider otherwise is anthropomorphism, surely?

(Edited to accept Mr A'd spelling correction)

[IanA]

You missed the 'po'....

But I agree with your general thrust. Oo-er missus!

[Steven Broomfield]

Po - tato? Spelling was never my forte.

[NigelS]

Aesop would be proud...

NigelS

[Kjb340]

Absolutely. But heading an article "Animals Who Did What They Were Trained For" isn't quite as catchy!

[keithfazzani]

Surely that is the point, they are not heroes.

[jon_armstrong]

Could I suggest that as animals don't have a human facility for rational thought, risk assessments, etc, the use of the phrase "animal hero" is an oxymoron. Animals cannot be heroes as they cannot predict the outcome of a given course of action. To consider otherwise is anthropomorphism, surely?

(Edited to accept Mr A'd spelling correction)

Why does the facility have to be human? There is lots of evidence of animals assessing risk, making rational judgements, predicting the outcome of events, etc.

Absolutely. But heading an article "Animals Who Did What They Were Trained For" isn't quite as catchy!

Without getting into what is a hero, people are rewarded all the time in military and non-military contexts for doing what they were trained for... what's the difference?

[Ghazala]

Hi Karen, your post seems to have been hijacked by the politically incorrect brigade. I don't have a story but thought you might be interested in this picture of a soldier with his wounded horse at Chipilly on the Somme.

[Ghazala]

Here is another one.. A French soldier with his dog at Pagny-sur-Moselle.

[Ghazala]

A Soldiers Kiss

by Henry Chappell

Only a dying horse! pull off the gear,

And slip the needless bit from frothing jaws,

Drag it aside there, leaving the road way clear,

The battery thunders on with scarce a pause.

Prone by the shell-swept highway there it lies

With quivering limbs, as fast the life-tide fails,

Dark films are closing oer the faithful eyes

That mutely plead for aid where none avails.

Onward the battery rolls, but one there speeds

Needlessly of comrades voice or bursting shell,

Back to the wounded friend who lonely bleeds

Beside the stony highway where he fell.

Only a dying horse! he swiftly kneels,

Lifts the limp head and hears the shivering sigh

Kisses his friend, while down his cheek there steals

Sweet pitys tear, Goodbye old man, Goodbye.

No honours wait him, medal, badge or star,

Though scarce could war a kindlier deed unfold;

He bears within his breast, more precious far

Beyond the gift of kings, a heart of gold.

[Steven Broomfield]

Hi Karen, your post seems to have been hijacked by the politically correct brigade. I don't have a story but thought you might be interested in this picture of a soldier with his wounded horse at Chipilly on the Somme.

Politically incorrect, if you don't mind

Without getting into what is a hero, people are rewarded all the time in military and non-military contexts for doing what they were trained for... what's the difference?

Technically, I'd suggest they are rewarded for doing rather more than they're trained for, or certainly for rather more than they're expected to do in the normal run of things.

[Kjb340]

Thanks for the photos and poem Ghazala. They'll be great on the waiting room display.

I understand all the political points. In the face of what the men went through perhaps the idea of animal "bravery" offends some; however, I am writing a newsletter for a small veterinary surgery and just wanted a few stories to commemorate the anniversay of the start of WW1.

[SteveMarsdin]

Hi Karen,

You should add the pigeon Vaillant, who carried the last message from Ft Vaux (Verdun). When you Google the pigeon "Vaillant" don't be distracted by the recent animated version !

[kenf48]

Heroes or not as far as dogs were concerned the sad fact is that while there was a school dedicated to their training many were given away or shot as 'useless'.

There were hundreds of stray dogs on the Front and plenty of opportunities for them to be led astray. The British refused to use dogs with a German heritage though one or two found their way to the front see Colonel Richardsons Airedales http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1550592483/ref=rdr_ext_tmb There are many illustrations and fascinating stories here. One of the problems the dogs faced is the distraction in that every 'Tommy' wanted to make friends with them!

Richardson's own book - 'British war dogs their training and psychology' is available as a free download

https://archive.org/details/britishwardogsth00richrich

The IWM has a series of photos of animals at war, here is one well known example of a messenger dog with its paws bandaged in the Nieppe forest. This appears as an illustration in most books of dogs in WW1

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205194810

You can download IWM images for non-commercial use. If you go to the picture above and scroll down to Related Images Animals there are dozens of photos.

I think this may have been posted before and don't know if you can use it but it's a great film of the training of dogs

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060022726

As mentioned above van Emden's Tommys Ark is a good resource as is Jilly Coopers Animals at War (though not exclusively WW1).

Ken

[Ghazala]

perhaps the idea of animal "bravery" offends some.

I can't see why.

[Steven Broomfield]

I'm not offended. I just think that the concept of animal heroism is wrong. Life's too short to be offended by anything.

[IanA]

I can't see why.

Eyeless in Ghazala...

[Ghazala]

Eyeless in Ghazala...

Get your coat mate!