RSPCA commemorative video remembers animals who lost their lives in World War One
The RSPCA is remembering animals who lost their lives in war this Armistice Day with a new film.
The film made by the charity pays respect to the millions of animals and soldiers injured and killed during WW1.
The video, set to the haunting notes of the Last Post, was made by RSPCA Radcliffe Animal Centre.
You can watch the video here.
It was created by visual media creator Amanda Dawes, a member of staff at the centre and acted in by Dec Smith, a part time Animal Care Assistant with the charity.
RSPCA Radcliffe manager Ella Carpenter said: “We are so proud of our staff and volunteers for their help in creating this moving video.
“It is to become part of our wider educational work within the community so the animals that served in the wars and those that continue to do so are not forgotten.
“We are creating a garden of remembrance at the centre so when people visit there will be information boards, stories and sculptures regarding the roles that animals played.”
The RSPCA was 90 years old by the start of the First World War and only had one clinic and an animal home in Islington at that time.
Many animals were sent to serve alongside British troops in France and Belgium, including horses, dogs and pigeons.
The charity received a letter from General Haig on January 28, 1919 expressing his gratitude for the charity’s help in treating sick and injured animals.
Its effort to care for the animals included setting up the RSPCA Fund for Sick and Wounded Horses, raising over £250,000 (more than £12 million today) between 1914 and 1918.
The fund was supported financially by the War Office and King George V made a donation.
Four hospitals were created with the funds and treated 2.5 million animals during the war, of which 80% were taken back to the front lines again.
More than eight million horses died in WWI, many on the front lines. Sadly, 18 RSPCA inspectors were also killed during the conflict.
Dermot Murphy, RSPCA chief inspectorate officer, today (Thursday) laid a wreath at the RSPCA war memorial featuring the names of those inspectors.
He said: “It is so important to reflect on and commemorate the bravery and sacrifice of our RSPCA staff and remember all the animals who lost their lives through conflict.
“Animals have given so much to us, and as we head toward our 200th anniversary in 2024 we will continue to pave the way for a better future in which the world shows kindness to animals.”
Dermot will also lay a poppy wreath at the Cenotaph memorial in Whitehall on Sunday alongside RSPCA Chief Executive Chris Sherwood and other representatives from the charity.
