Dogs who gave incredible service during WWI to be commemorated in new sculpture

A Scottish memorial of Airedale terriers and the soldiers they fought alongside will be unveiled later this year.

Whilst historiography commemorates men and women for heroic war efforts, the animals that undertook vital tasks can often be forgotten about. Indeed a whole host of species from horses, donkeys and camels to pigeons and dogs all played an important role. Pieces like the Animals in War Memorial in Hyde Park pays homage to their efforts and similarly, statues like the horse near Ascott is a tribute to horses that died during WWI. Now a new sculpture commemorating the role dogs played in the Great War is to be unveiled in Angus later this year. The BBC reports that this is believed to be the largest of its kind in the UK and is being designed by sculptor Bruce Walker and apprentice Kevin Hill. The idea that dogs could be very useful during times of conflict is accredited to Lt Col Edwin Hautenville Richardson who first proved that man's best friend could follow him to the front lines. He honed in on Airedale terriers, dogs that are determined and very single-minded and they were taught how to carry messages, locate injured men and act as guard dogs. The British War Dogs training school was established in Essex and dogs continued to play an important role when WWII was to break out in 1939. Wendy Turner from the Airedale terrier club has been influential in securing this new commemoration to war dogs. She told the BBC that Airedales were doing important work even before the conflict broke out:

"It started off with the British Red Cross and they used to send the dogs out onto the battlefield. If they found someone who was still breathing they would bring back something like a cap, take it to the stretcher bearers and then lead them out to where the person was injured. So that was a very important job obviously, saving lives."

We're certainly delighted that these brave doggos are getting the credit they deserve. Somehow, we can't quite see cats getting involved in the same way!