AT the imposing Imperial War Museum (IWM) in London recently, renowned author Jilly Cooper, patron of the Park Lane Animals in War Memorial, paused on the steps for a photograph with some very special animals and their handlers who attended the July 14 exhibition launch.
Included in the lineup was springer spaniel Buster, Royal Army Veterinary Corps search dog, who received a PDSA Dickin Medal for locating a hidden cache of arms, explosives and bomb-making equipment in Iraq in March 2003.
Present also was Hubble Keck (pet name Jake), and his handler PC Crawford, who saved the lives of several badly injured people on board the devastated bus in Tavistock Square shortly after the terrorist attacks by securing a route through the debris for the explosives officer to reach what was then thought to be a second explosive device. This allowed the emergency services access to provide urgently needed medical assistance. Jake was then tasked to clear an area close to the bus so a make-shift field hospital could be set up, before he and PC Crawford were deployed to Kings Cross to search the mile-long route from Russell Square tube station to the train at Kings Cross and the train itself.
Also attending the launch was Endal, assistance dog to 1991 Gulf War Veteran Allen Parton. Endal saved Allen's life when he was knocked out of his wheelchair and left unconscious by a speeding car. Endal was subsequently awarded a PDSA Gold Medal, the animals' George Cross, for his bravery and devotion to duty.
Regimental Mascots attending included Imphal and Quebec, ferrets adopted by The 1st Battalion Yorkshire Regiment; Shenkin II, a Royal Windsor White goat and mascot of the 3rd Royal Welsh Regiment; and Shetland Pony, Cruachan III, mascot of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
HMS Amethyst veteran, Lieutenant Commander Keir Stewart Hett MBE RN, 'Cat Officer' to the ship's cat Simon, was also at the launch. Simon is the only cat to have been awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal for "behaviour of the highest order". Despite being wounded during the 1949 Yangtse Incident, he both kept up the crew's morale and kept down the ship's rat population.
Visiting the IWM as an ex-modern day weapon electronics engineering officer and seeing the various equipment displays, Allen said "It is just so amazing to see what basic equipment our predecessors had to fight with and yet they achieved so much with it".
"The Animals' War Exhibition is a timely reminder and a very humbling experience to witness the important part animals have played alongside the armed forces during the various conflicts over many the centuries. It is a subject that is sure to stir the passions of the visitors, but somehow the exhibition has managed to sensitively represent how animals fulfilled their role and reveal the bonds that were forged with their human partners. They are Britain's forgotten heroes no longer, finally honoured by means of this exhibition which is also partly dedicated to the memories of the countless animals who gave their lives or suffered in the various conflicts.
"It was such an honour to be invited to attend with Endal and help promote the work done by animals in the aftermath of a conflict," Allen said.
The Animals' War Exhibition has used photographs, film, sculptures, memorabilia and interactive features to explore the intriguing and often surprising stories of animals in war.
An accompanying book sold at the exhibition is The Animals' War, written by historian Juliet Gardiner with a foreword by Jilly Cooper and published by Portrait. It is priced at £20.00. A children's book, Animals at War by Isabel George and Rob Lloyd Jones, is also on sale and priced at £4.99.
As part of the Animals' War Exhibition the IWM has set up an activity to help families get the best out of the exhibition. The ASDA Animal Hero Trail sends children on an adventure around the exhibits, performing tasks and discovering the many different ways animals have been used in times of war and how they make use of their natural strength and abilities.
There is also a competition where children get the chance to win one of the many prizes offered. For more details, visitors should ask at the information desk during their visit.
The ASDA Animals' Hero Trail is supported by ASDA Hero Pet Care www.asda.co.uk.
The Animals' War Exhibition runs until April 22, 2007 in London, after which it will transfer to IWM North in Manchester in summer 2007. Adults £6.00, concessions £5.00, children and groups £4.00, family ticket £18.00.
For General Enquiries Tel: 020 7416 5320/1 or visit www.iwm.org.uk/animals
