It is estimated that the British Army used 1.2 million horses and mules in the First World War, of which 484,000 sadly died in battle. Many were enlisted from loving homes in the UK and thrown into the horrors of war, where armies were often ill-equipped to protect them from the threat of injury and disease.
At 11am on 11 November 2011, representatives from The Blue Cross will stand with other organisations to remember the sacrifice of animals in war in a private service at the Animals in War memorial in London’s Park Lane.
Founded in 1897 as Our Dumb Friends League, the charity gained its current name from its valuable work helping animals in both world wars.
A Blue Cross flag – to distinguish from the Red Cross facilities for injured men – flew over animal hospitals across the battlefields of Europe and identified horse ambulances and vital medical supplies sent to the front lines.
They treated over 50,000 sick and injured horses and 18,000 dogs during the First World War, funded by donations from the British public.
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