The Animals
in War Memorial is located at Brook Gate, Park Lane, on the edge of
London’s Hyde Park and was designed by leading English sculptor,
David Backhouse. Unveiled on 24th November 2004 by the Princess Royal,
it exists as a memorial to the huge number of animals that have served
and died under British military command throughout history. The memorial
was inspired by Jilly Cooper's book, Animals in War, and was made
possible by a specially set up fund of £1,400,000 from public
donations of which Jilly Cooper was a co-trustee. The memorial consists
of a 55 ft by 58 ft (16.8 m by 17.7 m) curved Portland stone wall:
the symbolic arena of war, emblazoned with images of various struggling
animals, along with two heavily laden bronze mules progressing up
the stairs of the monument, and a bronze horse and bronze dog beyond
it looking into the distance.
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Photographs
Copyright © Carolynn Langley 2008 |
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THIS
MEMORIAL WAS
UNVEILED ON 24TH NOVEMBER 2004.
BY H.R.H. THE PRINCESS ROYAL .KG.
PATRON OF THE ANIMAL WAR MEMORIAL FUND.
ON
LEFT IN RING OF LAUREL LEAVES.
FOR GALLANTRY
WE ALSO SERVED
THE P.D.S.A. DICKIN MEDAL
THE ANIMAL VICTORIA CROSS
MANY
AND VARIOUS
ANIMALS WERE EMPLOYED
TO SUPPORT THE 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.
THE BUILDING OF THIS MONUMENT WAS MADE POSSIBLE
BY GENEROUS PUBLIC DONATIONS.
PRINCIPAL BENEFACTORS
THE ESTATE OF PAUL HELLUM, WESTMINSTER FOUNDATION, PET GROUP, R.S.P.C.A.
CADOGAN CHARITY, DOGS HOME BATTERSEA, AMALGAMATION OF RACING PIGEONS,
P.D.S.A. WILIAM PEARS GROUP, GEOFFREY KAYLE FOUNDATION, HOUSEHOLD
CAVALRY, SUNLEY FOUNDATION, AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB, A.S.P.C.A. H.P.H
SIR STANLEY AND LADYCLARKE, KALE FOUNDATION,
PATRICK DOHERTY, LORD LEVERHOLME TRUST, H.S.O.S.
MICHAEL STONE, MRS ANNETTE PHILLIPS, THE KENNEL CLUB,
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, JILLY COOPER.O.B.E. ROYAL REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY,
VETENARY CORPS, EVA RAUSING, BLUE CROSS
KIRSTON RAUSING SIR ANTHONY BAMFORD,MR & MRS CHARLES WATTS, IRISH
TERRIER ASSOCIATION, SPA WAY, JUNE MAKEPEACE AND
FAMILY, HAMPTON NTL, MARGARET LEAFE.
