Animals’ War exhibition
opens in Manchester

Allen and Endal in front of the Manchester Imperial Museum.

"Travelling on a bank holiday weekend was not one of my best laid plans," said Allen. "Having failed dismally in booking a train space for Dog and Wheelchair on any networks going that way, our only choice and the only viable option left was to fly. Heathrow and Gatwick flights were fully booked but our regional airport at Southampton had availability on most of their flights. I have tended to use the bigger airports because I can enter the aircraft safely via the pier with Endal and in my own wheelchair, a quick transfer straight in to the aircraft seat. Southampton was going to be altogether different as the aircraft parked out on the airfield and there are steps to navigate

On our arrival at Southampton airport terminal, we were taken straight to the front of the checking queue and quickly booked in, allowing time for a comfort break for Endal prior to going through security. I am sure the security staff were just using the security check as a way to pet and fuss Endal, who lapped up all the attention. The advantage about using a small local airport is that one only has to check in 45 minutes before the flight takes off, hence more comfortable for assistance dogs between breaks....we were learning all the time.

One of the rules about taking assistance dogs into aircraft cabins is that they must wear a flight harness which secures them safely to the seat. We were quickly called to the gate and taken on to the airfield. The rows of aircraft with engines whining and the smell of aviation fuel was enough to spook any dog so I was grateful Endal was wearing his special harness (no mischievious slipping of his collar) but I need not have worried as he bounced along the airfield with out a care in the world, in fact he was happy to jump on any plane regardless of where it was going.

The next operation is quite horrendous as we were both to be lifted up to a lift van on a small tailgate hoist, barely enough room for my wheelchair, but with Endal as well, a bit more risky than I was comfortable with. So I asked one of the stewardesses whether Endal could go up the aircraft steps with them. I think there was nearly a fight between the crew to be the one to take Endal on the plane...weird! Ten minutes later I was sitting next to Endal who had grabbed most of the space for himself and we settled down for an uneventful flight to Manchester. Big yellow sure is clocking up his air miles, this being his 50th flight. Endal by this stage looked like he had been bludgeoned, his head stained with red lipstick kisses from the stewardesses. Trust me nothing, but nothing, gets rid of lipstick stain.

Allen said "I will admit that Endal's celebrity status is wonderful, especially when it comes to travelling. The kindness shown to us both is really humbling at times, I can't thank everyone enough for making our journey to Manchester so effortless. Endal still manages to look every part the seasoned traveller, even at 32,000ft. He even has his own complementary sandwich and water (the rest of us mere mortals have to pay for ours!)

We arrived at Manchester on time and disembarked without problem and were through to our waiting taxi within 30 minutes. A quick visit to the bushes for Endal and off we went to the IWM Museum. On arrival we were interviewed by the BBC Manchester, Endal stealing all the limelight by playing around during the filming. He never lets me forget who the real star is in this partnership. Media commitments met, we retired to our hotel at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground, which has a fair bit of grass for my loyal chum but that's another story.

Saturday morning very early we arrived at the museum for the official opening of the exhibition, designed to be a family fun day, which was such a great success. Outside there were displays of flyball and canine agility, also in attendance regimental ferrets, sniffer dogs and a falconry display. Renowned TV vet Steve Leonard did the official opening bit and then the invited dignitaries and guests were given private tours in the morning. More interviews for Endal with Granada TV and the local newspapers and then eventually we became part of the exhibition tour in the afternoon to the public. The children were so delighted to see a real live dog in the exhibition and witnessed first hand what Endal can do to enable me every day since my injury in the Gulf War. It was so nice to meet up with our friends from The Kennel Club, CEO Rosemary Smart accompanied by a delegation from the KC and John Stirling, chairman of Pet Partners insurance, both principal sponsors of the Manchester exhibition at the Special Exhibitions Gallery, May 2007 – January 2008. ADMISSION FREE.

This major family exhibition explores the remarkable role of animals in conflict from the First World War to the present day using hands-on interactives, photographs, film and sound clips, paintings, touchable sculptures, and memorabilia from the Imperial War Museum collections and private and public lenders from all over the world. The Animals’ War is sponsored by the Kennel Club and PetPartners.

Follow the family-friendly A-Z of stories to explore the intrigueing and often surprising stories of animals in war. Get hands-on designing your own dog with the Kennel Club’s interactive computer game and see just how much a camel can carry in times of war. Discover how some animals have a remarkable sense of smell and see if you are brave enough to sniff out a few smells yourself. Play the most exciting game of snakes and ladders you’ll ever come across, measure yourself up to a camel and meet our very own life-size elephant.

Among the working animals whose stories are included in the exhibition are Winkie, the pigeon who saved the lives of a ditched aircrew by carrying a vital message revealing their location; Sefton, the cavalry horse who survived the Hyde Park terrorist bombing by the IRA; Endal, the assistance dog who helped to rehabilitate a badly-injured Gulf War veteran; and Roselle, the Labrador who led her blind owner to safety from the 78th floor of the World Trade Center after it was attacked on 11 September 2001.

Animals of many kinds from dogs and cats, to lions and eagles have also been adopted officially and unofficially as pets and mascots by the armed forces. A number of these are featured in the exhibition including Rin Tin Tin, who was found as a puppy on the Western Front in the First World War and went on to become a Hollywood legend; Judy, the pointer, the only animal to have been officially registered as a Japanese prisoner of war; Voytek, the bear mascot of the 22nd Transport Company of the Polish Army Service Corps who saw action at Monte Cassino in 1944; and Simon of HMS Amethyst, the only cat to have been awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal known as the “animals’ Victoria Cross”. Dickin Medals on display include those awarded to three police horses during the V1 Flying Bomb Offensive of 1944 and to Buster, the spaniel, who located a cache of arms in Iraq in 2003.

It is estimated that 16 million animals served during the First World War – by 1916 alone the warring nations had raised 103 cavalry divisions with over a million horses. Despite increasing mechanisation and advances in technology, animals have continued to play their part in the front line. Mules, elephants, camels, horses and other beasts have transported men and material in difficult terrain. In the Second World War over 200,000 carrier pigeons were used by Britain’s armed forces and secret service organisations. Dogs have guarded military personnel and property, located injured soldiers, tracked down enemy insurgents and sniffed out explosives. More recently rats and pigs have also been trained to clear minefields and the dolphin’s sensitive sonar has been exploited to identify mines in the Persian Gulf.

The accompanying exhibition book, The Animals’ War, written by the historian Juliet Gardiner, with a foreword by Jilly Cooper, is published by Portrait, priced at £20.00. A children’s book, Animals at War by Isabel George and Rob Lloyd Jones has been published by Usborne to coincide with the exhibition, priced at £4.99. These books, together with animal related merchandise, are available from the Museum shop.

Animals and War tours are held every Saturday and Sunday at 1.30, Main Exhibition Space and Special Exhibitions Gallery.