The Animals in War Memorial

The last post outlined my stumbling along the site of the Tyburn gallows whilst walking in London back in July 2025. On the same walk, whilst out finding geocaches, I saw – for the first time – the impressive Animals in War memorial near Hyde Park.

This impressive memorial was opened a couple of decades ago in 2004, and it portrays several animals in the process of walking: bronze mules, a bronze horse, and a bronze dog. Its primary purpose is to highlight and respect the role that animals have played in war across the centuries.

The inscription reads:

“Many and various animals were employed to support British and Allied Forces in wars and campaigns over the centuries and as a result millions died. From the pigeon to the elephant they all played a vital role in every region of the world in the cause of human freedom. Their contribution must never be forgotten.”

I found myself very much drawn to the memorial, perhaps for several reasons. Firstly, my own choice of becoming a vegetarian was based heavily on the moral belief that animals should not be harmed, eaten or abused for the benefit of humans. On Remembrance Day, I will be seen with both a red poppy, as well as a purple poppy to pay respect to the loss of so many animals in conflict. Secondly, I absolutely love dogs, and unfortunately lost – to old age and ill health – two of my dogs earlier this year (both Winnie and Fred can be found on various photographs on this blog, for they accompanied me on many of my history and walking adventures over the past decade).

There is also a third reason: I’m currently toying with the idea of researching and writing a book which charts the history of the relationship between humans and dogs. Having written a couple of books on the Tudor period, I am considering how I could write a wider history which isn’t contained by a specific century, or country, or even a specific event. And so, coming across this monument was another reminder of that relationship between dogs and humans. I was particularly intrigued by the addition of a smaller tribute at this memorial to Sgt Gander, a dog that was killed at the Battle of Hong Kong in 1941.

So, I walked around the memorial, placed my hand on the bronze dog, took my photos and then continued on with my walk. But I’ll be sure to return to this place the next time I am in London.