Erection date: 24/11/2004
{On the front of the monument:
On the screen wall:}
Animals in war
This monument is dedicated to all the animals that served and died alongside British and Allied forces in wars and campaigns throughout time. They had no choice.
{On the paving, close to the screen wall, at the west:}
E. A. Bowles, 1865 – 1954
{On the paving, close to the screen wall, at the east:}
Cynthia Anne Smith, 1939 – 2001
{On the back of the monument:
On the east side:
A large version of the PDSA medal:}
PDSA, For gallantry, We also serve
The PDSA Dickin Medal, the animals’ Victoria Cross, instituted 1943.
{Covering the rest of the screen wall on the east:}
Many and various animals were employed to support British and Allied forces in wars and campaigns over the centuries and as a result millions died. From the pigeon to the elephant they all played a vital role in every region of the world in the cause of human freedom. Their contribution must never be forgotten.
This monument was unveiled on the 24th November 2004 by HRH the Princess Royal KG KT, Patron – The Animals in War Memorial Fund
The building of this monument was made possible by generous public donations.
Principal benefactors: the Estate of Paul Mellon; Westminster Foundation; Pet Plan Group; RSPCA Cadogan Charity; Dogs Home Battersea; Amalgamation of Racing Pigeons; PDSA; William Pears Group; Geoffrey Kaye Foundation; American Kennel Club; ASPCA; ILPH; Household Cavalry; Sunley Foundation; Lord Leverhulme Trust; HSUS; Michael Stone; Sir Stanley & Lady Clarke; IFAW; WSPA; Royal Regiment of Artillery; Kirsten Rausing; Blue Cross; Patrick Doherty; Royal Army Veterinary Corps; Eva Rausing; Sir Anthony Bamford; Mr & Mrs Charles Watts; AHA; Mrs Annette Phillips Nicolls; Irish Terrier Association; June Makepeace & family; Margaret Leafe; Spa Way; Hamptons Intl; HPA; Kennel Club; Michael Fresson; Lord Ballyedmond; Mrs Vincent Paravicini; Dr Elisabeth Svendsen; Lt Col. Charles MacFetridge RA; Meridy Taite; Jeff & Debbie Compton; Pedigree; CHK Charity; William S. Farish III; Persula Foundation; Tom Scott; John Spurling OBE.
The Board of Trustees: Major Gen. Peter Davies, CB; Brig. Andrew Parker Bowles OBE; Alan Kennard Esq, MBE; Jilly Cooper OBE; Dr Andrew Higgins MRCVS; John R. Smith Esq.; David Simpson Esq.; Col. Ronnie McCrum MVO
{On the back of the west screen wall:}
David Backhouse - designer & sculptor
Richard Holliday, Harry Gray – carvers
Built by Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd
{On the east side of the gap in the screen wall:}
Mail on Sunday
Lascelles A. Lucas
Jeanne Marchig
Sir Rudolph Agnew
FM Conway Ltd
J Murphy & Sons Ltd
Hyder Consulting plc
Unveiled by Princess Anne. We have not created a page for all of the many trustees and donors listed, nor for the parties in the list headed by the Mail on Sunday - their role is not specified. The memorial has its own website and more information is given there, but no mention of E. A. Bowles nor of Cynthia Anne Smith. We ID'd Bowles ourselves but are still struggling with Smith. Perhaps she was related to the trustee, John R. Smith. Can any one help?
No explanation for these two names is given and as far as we can tell, Smith and Bowles are unrelated to the subject of the memorial. Bowles had died exactly 50 years prior to the memorial being unveiled, but then so did a lot of other people, people who were not great uncle to one the trustees, Andrew Parker Bowles.
One thought about this memorial is probably shared with the prostrate donkey - we hope the elephant has second thoughts about where to put that foot.
Site: Animals in War (2 memorials)
W1, Brook Gate
This is an impressive memorial but many people find it over-sentimental. Like most war memorials it insists we remember the fallen but in this instance they are a nameless troop of dumb animals who "had no choice". But, the men and women who fought, did they have a choice? This memorial to the animals in war makes one question all war memorials and their purpose. Remember so it won't happen again? Or remember, glorify the dead and become inured to the idea of war?
