Editor:
Emotional accolades focused on remembering the fallen, a plea to attend a ceremony and honour those who sacrificed for our freedom.
Yet the only reference to the millions of animals that served, and still serve in a variety of arenas, was on page 17. War Horse by Michael Morpurgo is being featured at artsPlace on Dec. 8.
An exceptionally brave horse named Warrior with gallantry and devotion to duty in the First World War was the inspiration.
Warrior received an honorary Dickin Medal, posthumously. This medal was instituted in 1943 by Maria Dickin, founder of the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA).
It is recognized as the highest award with which an animal may be feted while serving in military conflict; known as the Animal Victoria Cross, the engraving reads: For Gallantry. We Also Serve.
Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae’s eloquent poem is so often quoted during the time of Remembrance, yet his fondness for animals is seldom mentioned. In 1915, he befriended a dog, Bonneau, at Ypres; his loyal mount Bonfire would prove to be “a precious connection to beauty and decency in an ugly world gone mad with war.”
Monuments around the world that recognize the exploits of soldiers very rarely, if ever, acknowledge the contribution and sacrifices of millions of animals who had no choice in serving their countries. The Animals in War Dedication, located in Confederation Park, Ottawa, is a fitting tribute and a solemn reminder of the debt we owe them.
Part of the closing sentence of the introduction in Cupid’s War declares their genuine value “… give some thought also to the horses, without whose courage, loyalty and hard work I think it is reasonable to suggest that the war could not have been fought.”
Carol Tracey,
Calgary
