Animals in WW1

The animals in the Great War

The animals in First World War (1)

During the Great War horses, dogs, mules, donkeys, traveling pigeons and many other animals fought the war with the soldiers at the front. They were used for moving units and materials and for communications.These incredible creatures helped many soldiers and save many lives.Unfortunately, almost 4 millions animals died in the fights of the war.

The animals in First World War (2)

The horses were used for the transport of cannons, ambulances and supply wagons. The mules were useful for carrying luggage; dogs were used as a guards and as transports; pigeons carried messages over long distances, from one trench to another, while other birds or goldfishes were used for the detection of gas in the air.

Cher Ami, a pigeon; three dogs with gas mask and a mule with a machine gun.

The dogs in First World War

The dogs in the war were used to find the wounded and often became their only friends during the conflict, inside and outside the trench. Dogs were medical dogs when they help the soldiers wounded.«War dogs» were used for the transport of food, ammunition, medicines and artillery pieces. But dogs were also trained to smell weapons, mines, and explosives. The dogs can be good sentinels. It is estimated that at least 100.000 dogs were employed in the First World War.

Photos

Sergeant Stubby (1)

Sergeant Stubby was a bull terrier who served for 18 months in the United States Army during First World War. He fought on the Western Front. He was found in 1917 on the campus of Yale University, becoming the official and loved mascot of the 102nd Infantry Regiment, particularly attached to Corporal Robert Conroy, who took him to the French trenches. He had the merit of saving his regiment lots of surprise attacks with asphyxiating gas and even capturing a German soldier.

Sergeant Stubby (2)

Stubby was wounded many times in the legs by several grenades, for this he obtained two awards as wounded by war. He returned to the United States as a war hero, spending the next few years "at rest", like a real veteran. He received four medals for military valour.

The end!