National Day for War Animals

Each year, on 24 February, is a National Day for War Animals in Australia, where the deeds and sacrifices of animals in war are commemorated.

Animals have been put to many uses in war, serving as transport, beasts of burden, messengers, protectors, mascots, and pets. They have played an important part in all wars in which Australians have been involved.

Famously, of 136,000 Australian horses sent to the First World War, only one returned. After General Bridges died in May 1915 from a wound sustained at Gallipoli, his favourite horse, Sandy, returned to Australia, eventually finding a home at the Australian War Memorial.

While the donkey made famous by Simpson is perhaps the best known example of a beast of burden, mules were in constant demand to carry supplies to the frontline.

The Camel Corps was formed in the early years of the First World War. By late 1917 the Desert Mounted Corps had some 6,000 camels.

The homing ability and navigational skills of carrier pigeons saw them used during the First and Second World Wars. Some were even awarded medals for gallantry.

Working dogs were used by the Royal Australian Engineers in 1918, with sappers handling messenger dogs in the trenches of France. Search dogs were used from 1944 after the raising of the First Australian Dog Platoon. Mine detection and scout dogs were used in Korea and Vietnam and Explosive Detection Dogs were used to counter the threat of improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan.

During the First World War many Australians brought animals from home to the training camps in Egypt. When the war ended they were donated to the Cairo Zoo. As late as the 1950s, it was said to have had the largest collection of Australian native animals outside of Australia. Since then a selection of dogs, cats, goats, possums, rams, eagles, monkeys, turtles, and many more have acted as formal (or informal) mascots for Australian units.