With popular children’s novel War Horse now a hit film at the cinema, we asked Sophia Khan from the Blue Cross to tell us all about the important roles that animals played in the First and Second World Wars.

What were animals’ roles in the First World War?

At the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, thousands of horses were plucked from their peaceful lives as gentlemen’s horses, or working animals pulling ploughs and carts in the countryside, and sent to the battlefields of Europe. Some of the horses were set to work pulling heavy guns, ammunition and supplies for the army, while others carried cavalry soldiers into battle.

Terrible conditions in the trenches were as dangerous and terrifying for the animals as they were for the men. The horses endured freezing, wet conditions, with ill-fitting shoes and not enough clean water or food. They were at risk from diseases and infections and many were injured by bullets or shrapnel under enemy fire.

Dogs also played an important role during the conflict, as lookouts and messengers. Some of them were even trained to lead blinded and injured soldiers from the trenches to safety.

How did The Blue Cross help?

The people in Britain were very moved when they heard about the suffering of the animals on the battlefields, and with their help, The Blue Cross was able to raise enough money to help thousands of horses. Veterinary chests containing important supplies such as bandages and medicine were sent to more than 3,500 units of the British army, to help sick and injured horses. Blue Cross horse ambulances picked up injured animals from the frontline, who would go on to be treated by vets at one of 19 horse hospitals provided by the charity in France and Italy.

Injured war dogs had their own special hospitals, where they would have been taken in a special dog ambulance or by train from the front line.

What happened to animals in the Second World War?

During the Second World War, staff at The Blue Cross animal hospital in London Victoria found themselves helping animals closer to home. They cared for thousands of animals in London who were injured or made homeless by the bombs that fell during The Blitz from 1941-42.

Hospital staff were on call 24 hours a day, risking their lives to pull animals from the rubble of bombed buildings and treat their injuries, often by candlelight. Meanwhile, 14 animal shelters across London were full to bursting with dogs and cats left behind by owners who had been evacuated or soldiers sent to fight, and pets found alone in the ruins of bombed houses or shut up to starve in empty buildings.

What does The Blue Cross do today? 

The Blue Cross hospital in Victoria, which first opened in 1906, is still in the same spot today, where vets and nurses care for the pets of people on low incomes. The charity’s three other animal hospitals and network of rehoming centres across the country help thousands of sick and homeless animals every year. To find out more, visit The Blue Cross website: www.bluecross.org.uk.

Writing competition

The Blue Cross is calling on all budding young writers to enter their War Horse short story competition. Can you imagine what life might have been like for horses and soldiers during the war? If you were inspired by the story of Albert and his horse Joey in the War Horse movie, perhaps you could pen the winning entry.

For details on how to enter, visit: www.bluecross.org.uk/warhorsecompetition and take a look at The Blue Cross War Horse archive too. It’s full of photos, letters and poems, which might give you some more ideas.

The writer of the winning story in each category will receive a £50 book token and the chance of a VIP visit a Blue Cross centre or hospital.

The Facts 

• The British Army used around 1.2 million horses and mules in the First World War.
•  By the end of the First World War The Blue Cross had treated more than 50,000 horses and 10,000 dogs.
• A blue cross was painted on the side of the animal ambulances and flew on flags above the horse hospitals, to distinguish them from the Red Cross for people.
• Over 150,000 dogs and cats were cared for by The Blue Cross in the UK in 1940 alone.
• The Blue Cross was originally called ‘Our Dumb Friends League’ but changed its name in the 1950s in honour of the work it did helping animals at war.