During the war, animals – especially horses, donkeys, dogs, camels and pigeons – were used by armies because of their unique ability to undertake tasks that were difficult or impossible for humans. Over challenging terrain, they carried messages and transported equipment, people and supplies. They also helped to find people and save lives. Unfortunately, many animals suffered and died as a result of the war.
Camels
Camels can travel long distances with heavy loads, through hot dry country. Before motorised transport was available, camels were useful for exploration and work in arid regions. They were imported into Australia from the 1860s and used in the outback. During the war, the Allies used camels during the Middle East campaigns to transport equipment and people.
Fresh supplies from ships came ashore on barges and then travelled by camel to military camps. Some camels were used as ambulances, with stretcher-like cacolets attached to their saddles.
The dromedary is a single-humped camel native to the Middle East and North Africa that can:
- carry up to 145kg
- survive without water for up to 6 days
- travel over 40km a day
Camels eat almost any green vegetation they can find in the desert.
Dogs
Dogs worked as guards, messengers, saved lives and were also companion animals.
Sometimes dogs were used to carry important messages when telephone links or wireless failed. A message was secured in a canister attached to the dog’s collar. The dogs were trained to operate in the noise and chaos of battle, and they could move quickly around shell holes and through trenches.
Donkeys and mules
Donkeys are smaller than horses and are well suited to hot rugged environments. They can travel quickly over rough country, even when weighed down with a heavy load.
Many donkeys were brought ashore at Gallipoli to help with transport. They would haul ammunition, supplies and water from Anzac Cove up the steep hillsides to the men in the trenches. They also became walking ambulances.
Horses
Horses were needed for the officers and many of the troops in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) during the war.
The Australian Government preferred to buy Waler horses because they were:
- medium-sized tough bush horses
- more suited to a fast walk or smooth canter, instead of an unsettling trot
- suitable for heavy pack duties
- tolerant of extreme stress from lack of food and water
Walers were well suited to the desert conditions in the Sinai Campaign.
Most horses need about 30L of water per day, but a Waler in the Middle East could survive up to 3 days without a drink. They proved to be better than camels for quickly transporting troops to a battle.
Pigeons
The pigeon is a hard-working military bird. Pigeons can fly fast over very long distances – without stopping – and they have very strong ‘homing’ instincts to help them find their way back home to their loft.
The Australian Corps Signal Company used pigeons kept pigeons in lofts. The birds were delivered to the front line in baskets and released with messages on the situation.
The birds would carry messages in small containers attached to their legs, or in small pouches looped over their backs.
( Source : ANZAC Portal)
