Memorials dedicated to animals in war
The Animals War Memorial Dispensary
The idea behind The RSPCA Animals War Memorial Dispensary in Kilburn, north-west London, was to have a memorial that would also benefit living animals.
The animal clinic was formally opened on Thursday, 10 November 1932, although had already been treating animals for 13 months, and is still in operation today as the RSPCA Kilburn (Animal War Memorial) Clinic.
The building features a striking bronze sculpture and two engraved Portland stone plaques dedicated to all the animals whose lives were sacrificed during the First World War, which were unveiled at its opening.
The sculpture over the building’s entrance was designed by Mr Frederick Brook Hitch who won a competition run by the RSPCA and The Royal Society of British Sculptors (RBS) for the best memorial design.
It features just some of the types of animals that saw action and gave service – horses, mules, oxen, dogs, elephants, camels and pigeons.
The stone plaques are either side of the entrance and feature the memorial's inscriptions, one of which is pictured on the right.
You can read the memorial inscriptions (PDF 69.3KB) in full, as well as an article taken from The Animal World magazine in December 1932 (PDF 3.95MB) about the opening of the clinic.
The Animals In War Memorial
This magnificent monument on the edge of Hyde Park, London, is a moving and fitting tribute to all the animals who served, suffered and died alongside the British, Commonwealth and Allied forces in the wars and conflicts of the 20th century.
It was designed by sculptor David Backhouse FRBS, RWA, FRSA and unveiled in November 2004, the 90th anniversary year of the start of the First World War.
A national appeal was launched to raise the funds needed to build the monument and the RSPCA was just one of many donors that enabled the work to be completed.
Find out more at:
You can search for more memorials dedicated to animals in war at the United Kingdom National Inventory of War Memorials: www.ukniwm.org.uk