In this momentous year which marks the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, Karen Hunton takes a look at the significant and selfless contribution made by both soldiers and animals alike throughout the conflict.

In the past century, millions of animals were enlisted to serve and often die alongside their armies. During the First World War, eight million horses and countless mules and donkeys died.

Mules were of particular value due to their tremendous stamina over difficult terrain and in extreme climates, such as the freezing mud on the Western front and in the oppressive heat of Burma, Eritrea and Tunisia.

Dogs, highly valued for their intelligence and devotion, were used to run messages, lay telegraph wires, detect mines, dig out bomb victims, as well as acting as patrol or guard dogs. Many suffered horrific wounds in unimaginable circumstances, pushing them to the limits of their endurance, yet still they showed unwavering courage and steadfast loyalty to their handlers.

Various breeds were used throughout, with bloodhounds and Airedales being favoured by the Red Cross in order to seek out men laying wounded in no-man’s land. Equipped with medical supplies these ‘Mercy’ dogs had been originally trained in the late 1800’s by the Germans and were known as ‘Sanitatshunde’. When a Mercy dog appeared on the battlefield, wounded soldiers who were able to help themselves to supplies, could then tend their own injuries, but for those mortally injured, the Mercy dog was trained to wait with them while they died.

In addition to our canine heroes serving on the frontline, however, let us not forget the important role played by the mascot dog. For men ensconced in battle, a dog in the trenches must have been a great psychological comfort .

It is estimated that by 1918, Germany had employed 30,000 dogs, Britain, France and Belgian over 20,000 and Italy 3,000.

Many other species also played their part in the war, including elephants, camels, oxen, cats, canaries and not forgetting the 100,000 pigeons in the First World War and 200,000 in the Second World War.

These courageous birds had a 95 per cent success rate in getting their messages through. They were kept behind the frontline in mobile lofts, sometimes horse drawn, but often mounted on lorries or even London buses and then taken in wicker baskets to the trenches when required.

As they were only trained to fly to a known base, they could only be used to take messages to the rear rather than fly back to the front and whenever they were released they invariably brought down a hail of enemy fire, as the German soldiers tried to stop the messages getting through. Trained hawks were also brought to the frontline in an attempt to thwart these gallant couriers.

Even pigeons from the royal loft at Sandringham were sent to the frontline in the Second World War, so that King George VI could receive up to date progress reports.

The Germans also had their own pigeon task force, up to a million of which were commandeered from occupied Belgium. Understandably, British soldiers also went to great lengths to kill and capture enemy birds which, when caught, were sometimes taken back to the home front and paraded in public.

In 1914, during the First Battle of the Marne, the French army advanced 72 pigeon lofts with the troops and the US Army Signal Corps used 600 pigeons in France alone.

There was one gallant bird in particular, however, whose story I find particularly inspiring. Known only as 2709, he was of thousands to die in the First World War and his heroism took place during the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917.

As the battle raged, it became imperative for an urgent signal to be transported back to headquarters from the front line, so 2709 was despatched. The flight should have only taken 20 minutes, but very soon after setting off 2709 was hit by enemy fire. The bullet is reported to have broken a leg and then passed through his body, leaving the small metal message cylinder embedded in his side.

Although it took him a further 21 hours, 2709 did complete his mission, the message was delivered, but he died the following day.

Messenger pigeons were not just central to life in the trenches, they also served on the home front, on war ships, submarines and aircraft.

As an indication of their importance to the war, during the years of conflict under the Defence of The Realm Act, anyone found interfering with a homing pigeon could be fined £100 or be faced with up to six months in prison.

During the First Battle of the Marne, the French army advanced 72 pigeon lofts with the troops and the US Army Signal Corps used 600 pigeons in France alone