Non-humans in action in the regional and World Wars.

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Non-humans in action in the Wars.

Man, at times of his necessity for the good and for bad at times of war, used his brethern, his menials, slaves and even the quadruped animals and biped- birds too. But, a war between countries, gets all of them into action, leading to someone’s victory and huge loss of life for both the winner and the vanquished. There are no family members to cry for these animals, unlike the humans.

While the statistics on total soldiers killed in different wars, are available, the data for non-humans killed in famous wars are only available. It is reported that sixteen million animals served in the armies of first world war. Horses, elephants, camels , and other animals have been used for both transportation and  mounted attacks. 

The Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, (RSPCA) estimates that 484,143 horses, mules, camels and bullocks were killed in British War service between 1914 and 1918. Those animals could not speak, their "silent" sacrifice is absolutely forgotten. On a Veterans Day, all the  soldiers are remembered, but, very few ever remember the contribution that these animals gave their masters a comfortable service . Very few memorials might be there, possibly for the canines and  equines, but the lowest for the mules, bullocks, a few elephants, and other pack animals.

In the First World War, Sinai/Mesopotamia campaigns, the "higher" follower category of the non-combatant army personnel were the drivers of packed and wheeled transports with mules, bullocks and camels in the Supply and Transport Corps. There were separate Mule Corps, Bullock Corps and Camel Corps with mentions of various depot numbers . There were two categories of followers viz "public" and "private". Public followers were paid by the Government and the private followers were paid by regiments. There were about 20,000 personnel in the three animal transport corps.

Horses: Horses and mules are the most commonly used animals in wars. Horses for riding and mules as beasts of burden, for transporting goods to different areas. Some 2700 of 94000 horses sent from USA to western war front, sank and died in a submarine attack on the animals transport ship, much before seeing action. By August 1917 the British Army had 368,000 horses and 82,000 mules in Belgium and France. By the end of the war most horses as well as mules, were pulling gun limbers, ammunition trains, supply wagons and ambulances .Horse drawn ambulances, though slow, were the most suitable, in the front where the ground was full of craters and where the conventional motor ambulances, could not be effectively used. Horses, mules, and dogs when injured were moaning and groaning in high pitch which was unbearable to the human ears. These animals like soldiers, were hit by shells, bullets and shrapnels, and also poison gas. There were deaths of these animals by disease and wounds rather than direct bullets. Many a time, the horse was more invaluable than a soldier. As these animals were taken right upto the war front, the animal deaths were also more. 

Horses were slaughtered for their meat when needed. During the Siege of Kimberley and Siege of Ladysmith, in the Boer Wars around 1900, in South Africa, horses were consumed as food once the regular sources of meat were depleted. The besieged British forces in Ladysmith also produced chevril, a Bovril-like paste, by boiling down the horse meat to a jelly paste and serving it like beef tea.

 

Mules:   Mules were used by the British, American and Indian Armies, during  World War  I and II  to carry supplies and equipment over difficult terrain. These pack animals are innately patient, cautious, and hard working.. Mules could carry heavy loads of supplies where Jeeps and even pack horses could not travel. Mules were used in the Palestine, Sinai and Mesopotamian areas of WW I and in North Africa, Burma, Italy in WW II . They are also used for transporting supplies in mountainous regions and as ambulance to transport sick and injured soldiers.

In the Mule Corps of WW I , Palestine/Sinai/Mesopotamia sectors, there were around 50 depots (# from 1 to 75, some missing in between), A Depot, B depot, “C” Complement, “C B” depot, “C C” Rawalpindi, Base Transport Depot (Field Section); ( number of animals in each depot is not known) in the Mule Corps which served in Mesopotamia and the soldiers martyred belonging to these Depots are listed in Basra Memorial. There was no “Horse Corps”. Probably the Veterinary Corps would have directly taken charge.

In 1971 war, Pakistan captured a  mule   of the Indian Army and took  it  away deep  into Pak side.  The very loyal mule, dared the cross fire of bullets, and  walked  back the 25 km  to their Indian handlers, safely  carrying   two boxes   of enemy's   ammunition. That is the dependability of the mule.

Dogs: The Germans had a force of 30,000 dogs, recruited for the war purposes. They hunted for rats in trenches. They carried messages, food to some wounded soldiers, and did "mercy service" by staying with dying soldiers. They carried urgent messages in the tough forward areas. They were used to lay communication lines. They pulled machine guns in the field. A post mortem of a dog named Dick, showed shrapnel near his spine and a bullet in his chest, and he was in service till his death. “I have given my husband and my sons,” wrote one English woman, “and now that he too is required, I give my dog.” That must have been terrible for the lonely lady. The dogs were land messengers to carry information while moving around trenches and battle areas, with canine expertise. Dogs have long been employed in a wide variety of military purposes, more recently focusing on guarding and bomb detection. They worked with their keen sense of smell and hearing, to locate wounded, immobile soldiers from trenches, and their companionship was invaluable. Like the Americans, British Forces also used dogs as mascots of their units.

Camels: have been used as mounts in arid regions (Camel cavalry). They are better able to traverse sandy deserts than horses, and require far less water. Camels were employed in both world wars. Camels were of great use in the Sinai and Mesopotamia areas of World War-I .Camels are used by the Indian Army and Border Security Force for patrolling in the desert regions of Rajasthan.

In the Camel Corps of WW I, Palestine/Sinai/Mesopotamia sector, there were 7 depots viz the 3^rd,6th(Government Depot), 65^th, 70^th , 71^st, , Central Personnel Depot, Indian Medical Service Depot, listed ( number of animals in each depot is not known) in the Camel Corps which served in Mesopotamia and the soldiers martyred belonging to these Depots are listed in Basra Memorial.

Elephants: While elephants are not considered domesticable, they can be trained to serve as mounts, or for moving heavy loads. Sanskrit hymns record their use for military purposes as early as 1,100 B.C. A group of elephants was employed by Hannibal during the Second Punic War. They were employed as recently as in World War 1 by British, in World War II by both the Japanese and Allies. It was reported that a few elephants in Zoos and Circus Companies in Britain were conscripted for army service, within Britain. Elephants could perform the work of machines in locations where vehicles could not penetrate, so they found use in the Burma Campaign World War II.

Bullocks: They have been used to haul transports in various sectors of World War I. Specific references for the sectors are the least.

In the Bullock Corps of WW I , Palestine/Sinai/Mesopotamia sector there were depots viz the 1st(Lucknow),2nd, 4^th,5th Coy, 38th (half troop) attd Pontoon sec; 46^th (half troop) ; 51^st (half troop) ; 57^th (half troop) ;58^th, 61^st, 67^th,”C B” Depot, ( number of animals in each depot and troop  is not known) in the Bullock Corps which served in Mesopotamia and the soldiers martyred belonging to these Depots are listed in Basra Memorial.

Whales: Poor things after getting killed and processed, gave glycerine for the bombs, rifle oil, fuel for stoves used in trenches and to treat trench foot. Man even tried hydrogenating the whale oil for human consumption. Whale meat met with shortages of food. Thus, around 175,000 whales were killed in south Atlantic sea and some of them were mistakenly killed by air force pilots by bombing thinking that it was a submarine. Germans killed seals and dolphins for their oil.

Pigeons: It is estimated that around 100000 pigeons were used for carrying the messages to soldiers behind enemy lines.. They were kept in special cages and protected well. Their homing capability was used to the full. The army division HQs kept pigeon lofts and they used to get message carrying pigeon from the front on to the lofts. In the fields, soldiers used to carry mobile lofts, throughout their working areas. “Peerless Pilot” a pigeon of US forces delivered 196 messages, from the sea to the base. Around 20,000 pigeons got killed in the World War I.

“Gay-Neck” was a trained carrier pigeon sent from India,  served in France during WW1 to carry messages of courage and hope. The pigeon returned home as a hero. This is as told by Dhan Gopal Mukherji in his “ Gay-Neck, the story of a pigeon (Dutton 1927)

Slugs: By the time soldiers noticed the presence of mustard gas on the battlefield, it was often too late. Dr. Paul Bartsch of the U.S.  National Museum of Natural History, discovered that slugs could detect mustard gas well before humans could. The slugs would visibly indicate their discomfort by closing their breathing pores and compressing their bodies, and soldiers in the trenches would quickly put on their gas masks to protect themselves from harmful levels of gas. The "slug brigade" ended up saving many lives. No memorial for these crawlers anywhere.

Other fauna: Many other animals have been reportedly used in various specialized military functions, including rats and pigs. One South African unit had a baboon called “Jackie” with sharp hearing, who would tug at men’s sleeves if he detected enemy advances.

Donkeys, pigs and magpies were used to give company to soldiers who had mortar shell shocks and stress of war. . They gave soothing companionship to the soldiers. Even cats were used as mascots and pets of soldiers and to hunt for rats in the trenches. Dolphins and sea lions are in active use today in the Navy, and trained to detect mines, depth charges and torpedoes

Veterinary Services: Army Veterinary Corps did marvelous service in administering veterinary medicine and evacuation of the injured. Mobile veterinary service with evacuation stations cared for extensive emergency care in horse drawn ambulances, or motor ambulances taking two animals at a time and in trains available at nearby railheads. Watering and feeding of these injured animals were taken care. Veterinary Hospitals cared for 2500 to 3500 animals per week. Between 18 August 1914 and 23 January 1919 over half a million sick and wounded animals passed through the British Army’s Mobile Veterinary Sections and Veterinary Evacuating Stations in Flanders and France

 In response to the military importance of horses and mules, the (Royal) Army Veterinary Corps  established a system of veterinary medicine parallel to the casualty evacuation system of the Royal Army Medical Corps.

The equivalent of the Field Ambulance was the Mobile Veterinary Section; animals needing more extensive emergency care were transferred to Veterinary Evacuation Stations (the equivalent of the Casualty Clearing Station) located at railheads.  They were moved either by horse-drawn ambulance –– or by special motor ambulances designed to carry two horses each (there were 26 of them, donated by the RSPCA and subscribed from public donations). Like wounded soldiers, horses needing further medical or surgical attention were transported by barges ,or by rail to Veterinary Hospitals at the base on the French coast. once the Veterinary Evacuating Stations had been established special horse trains were introduced.  These had to self-sufficient supplies of fodder and water.

American Red Star Animal Relief, organized by the American Humane Association, started a veterinary corps and recruited experienced veterinarians, blacksmiths, and stable hands to serve in its ranks. The organization created and distributed over 80,000 booklets to American soldiers that detailed first aid for horses, and it supplied veterinary ambulances and medical supplies to Army camps.

Memorials and Decorations: 

The Horse Memorial in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, is a tribute to the 300,000 horses that died during the Boer Wars.

 The only famous memorial for “Animals in War”, in Park Lane, London, has bronze mules, bronze horse and a dog  well laid out. Images of other animals used and lost in the war, are sculpted in bas-relief on the walls. "Simon" the cat, “GI joe" the Pigeon, ”Rob” a war dog, “Upstart” the police Horse, and the PDSA medals for them were remembered. The  PDSA Dickin Medal recognised as the animals' Victoria Cross - was named after Maria Dickin, the founder of the PDSA, formerly known as the  “People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals” (PDSA). Between 1943 and 1949, 54 animals received the medal, including 32 pigeons, 18 dogs and 3 horses.

War horse “Blackie’s” grave in Liverpool, “Songster” the horse’s memorial at Louborough, for the British Empire’s horses which fell in WW1, “Animals in War” (AIW) memorial at Hampstead Suburb of London, the Tunnellers Friends memorial for the Canaries and mice at Edinburgh,Scotland; Pigeons Memorial at Lille, France, are the other famous ones.

The essential role that horses and mules played in World War I did not go unrecognized: the U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum erected a plaque dedicated to the horses and mules that served in the American Expeditionary Forces during the Great War. It states, "A fitting tribute to their important services has been given by General John J. Pershing who has written 'The army horses and mules proved of inestimable value in prosecuting the war to a successful conclusion. They were found in all the theaters of preparation and operation doing their silent but faithful work without the faculty of hoping for any reward or compensation." The plaque also says that "what they suffered is beyond words to describe."

“Stubby” was a terrier pup of Private Robert Conroy of Britain who took it to France in his posting. Stubby had learnt the drills, calls, the salutes. He was the mascot of 102 nd Infantry of 26^th Yankee Division. He used to give early warning barking in cases of enemy gassing, and saved many lives, as also searching and finding lost soldiers in the front. He was able to catch a German spy and he was promoted as a sergeant. A shrapnel of a shell injured Stubby and he was hospitalised. There also he was cheering the wounded soldiers. He got many awards and medals from his 17 battles. There were air force pilots with pet dogs, who sometime times used to enjoy a ride, else, wait for its master's arrival  at the airport.

‘A dog, but a sailor at heart’:  "Just Nuisance" (o1 April 1937 -01 April 1944), a Great Dane,  was the only dog ever to be officially enlisted(Able Seaman) in the Royal Navy. He was a Great Dane who between 1939 and 1944 served at HMS Afrikander, a Royal Navy shore establishment in Simon's Town, South Africa. He stole many rides in trains with Sailors and the railway authorities had complained.  He died in 1944 at the age of seven years and was buried with full military honours (Klaver Camp, Simon's Town).  “Just Nuisance”: Life story of an able seaman who leads a dog’s life written by Leslie M. Steyn (RMG ID: LIS/15/4). 

"Cher Ami”, a war service pigeon carried messages and though shot and injured, saved 200 US soldiers of the “Lost Battalion”, who were behind the enemy lines. France honoured this pigeon with “Croix de Guerre”.

"853 AT mule Pedongi  in 71 war also received  gallantry. award." says Shri G.T.Rana, a famous blogger.

 (Ref: Various sites in the internet; CWGC  Basra Memorial,War Cemetery graves Listings )

US military dogs awarded 'K-9' bravery medals for Afghan service  (13 July 2016)

Four dogs (brief mentions given below) who worked with the US military in Afghanistan have been awarded medals for their sacrifice and service to the United States. The canines were given the K-9 Medal of Courage, and are the first to receive the honour created by welfare group the American Humane Association. The medals were presented by top commanders at a ceremony at Capitol Hill in Washington. All four dogs had saved humans' lives by smelling out explosives. "Soldiers have been relying on these four-footed comrades-in-arms since the beginning of organised warfare and today military dogs are more important than ever in keeping our service men and women safe," said Robin Ganzert from the American Humane Association, which works to promote animal and child welfare and has been working with US military animals for 100 years.

Matty, a Czech German Shepherd

• Credited with saving the life of his handler, retired officer Brent Grommet, and his unit on several occasions. Used "his superhuman sense of smell" to detect hidden improvised explosive devices (IED)
• During one ambush in Afghanistan, the pair raced to clear a helicopter landing zone of IEDs while taking direct mortar fire and went back to the frontline where they were knocked unconscious by a rocket-propelled grenade
• The pair were wounded several times and are both retired. Matty now helps Brent "manage the debilitating symptoms of both the visible and invisible wounds of war, bringing him a sense of security, calmness, and comfort"

Fieldy, black Labrador retriever

• Served four combat tours in Afghanistan
• His working to detect explosives saved "an uncounted number of human lives"
• After being discharged from the military he was reunited with is former handler US Marine Corps Corporal Nick Caceres to whom he had offered "steadfast companionship, affection, and a sense of normalcy" during seven months in Afghanistan

Bond, a Belgian Malinois

• Worked more than 50 combat missions, and was deployed to Afghanistan three times.
• He put his life at risk every day to keep his Special Operations Unit safe and "the number of lives he saved through his work in enemy apprehension and explosives detection is simply unknown"
• Bond suffers from combat trauma, once knocking out his own teeth trying to chew himself out of his kennel during a thunderstorm. He has now been reunited with his former handler and together they are helping each other readjust to civilian life

Isky, German Shepherd

• Protected top US leaders and general on trip before being deployed to Afghanistan in July 2013, where he saved "uncounted lives while serving as an explosive-detection dog". Also served in the Middle East, finding five IEDs, including a 120lb bomb, and 10 weapon caches
• He was injured several times including during a patrol to avoid an ambush when his right leg was injured in six places. The damage was so bad the leg had to be amputated and forced him to retire from active military service, but he does still work as a service dog
• "He brought a lot of people home and he brought me home... He's my dog for PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) now and I feel I help him out a lot... Even though we do get on each others' nerves sometimes," his older handler Army Sergeant Wess Brown told ABC News

Mali, Belgian Malinois.

 

Mali the Belgian Malinois, based at the Royal Army Veterinary Corps Defence Animal Centre, near Melton, was deployed to the war-torn country in 2012 where he took part in an assault by British troops to secure a key enemy stronghold located in a multi-storey building. Sent to search for explosives under heavy fire, he was hoisted up the outside of the structure several times, and also skillfully detected the presence of enemy fighters. Despite being injured by grenade blasts - causing damage to his chest, legs, ear and the loss of a tooth - he carried on, and has now been decorated with the PDSA veterinary charity's Dickin Medal. Battle hardened - Mali suffered injuries to his chest, legs and ear, and lost a tooth, in a grenade blast during the assault on an enemy stronghold . Director general of the PDSA, Jan McLoughlin, said: "Mali has displayed a truly awesome ability and determination to seek out explosives and insurgents during a key operation. Mali is the 69th to get the award.

After receiving emergency treatment for his injuries, Mali returned home from Afghanistan and has since made a full recovery. Now retired from fighting on the frontlines, he continues to work at the Royal Army Veterinary Corps Defence Animal Centre by helping to train new dog handlers. His current handler, Corporal Daniel Hatley, who also trained him as a puppy before he was deployed to Afghanistan, said the medal recognises the "vital role" he played in the assault. "I am extremely proud of Mali. The way he conducted himself when it mattered most enabled my colleagues to achieve success in close combat," Cpl Hatley added. The medal was first introduced by the veterinary charity's founder Maria Dickin in 1943 and is a large bronze medallion bearing the words "for gallantry" and "we also serve". In the years since its creation, a total of 31 other dogs, 32 World War messenger pigeons, four horses and one cat have also joined the roll of honour.

• The Surprising Story of the Only Cat Ever to Win the Highest Honor for Animal Military Gallantry (Sep 18, 2018)

   But none of those cats could boast of having a Dickin Medal, the highest British honor awarded for animal displays of bravery in battle. As of 2018, only one cat has ever earned the prestigious prize. His name was simple: Simon. While the men of the "Yangtse Incident" received a heroes' welcome home, Simon, the ships cat of HMS Amethyst and winner of the Dickin Medal - the animals Victoria Cross - rested at the Hackbridge Quarantine Kennels in Surrey. Not only was Simon the only feline ever to receive a Dickin, he was also the only Royal Navy animal to earn the Dickin distinction.

  Here is an incident where a man has sacrificed himself to save his faithful dog.

• Army Major in J&K saves wife from fire, dies rescuing dog.

   An Army officer  Major Ankit Budhraja,  died while trying to save his dog during a fire incident in Gulmarg area of Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir..A fire had broken out in an officers’ hut Saturday night and Major Ankit Budhraja of Corps of Signals, attached with SSTC Gulmarg, rescued his wife and one of his dogs. However, while rescuing another dog, the major received burn injuries up to 90 per cent and died on the spot, a police official said.