Discover Britain\u2019s non-human war heroes\u00a0 <\/p>
Lions led by donkey<\/a>s is phrase memorably used by\u00a0English military historian Alan Clark\u00a0to describe elements of the British forces in World War I. <\/strong><\/p> Clark was contrasting the bravery of rank and file soldiers with the incompetency of\u00a0some of\u00a0the officer class, but\u00a0there were so many animals involved in\u00a0the so-called Great War, that he could almost have been speaking literally \u2013 except for the fact that the real donkeys performed\u00a0absolute\u00a0heroics.\u00a0<\/p> Of course, the use of animals during wartime by British forces didn\u2019t start or end with the First World War \u2013 although many of the most astonishing stories do\u00a0seem to\u00a0stem from this era. Many species played an\u00a0active and highly important role in World War II, and other conflicts too.<\/p> \u00a0In 1943, the British charity PDSA<\/a> even instituted the \u2018Dickin Medal<\/a>\u2019 often called the animal V.C (Victoria Cross), which was the idea of animal welfare pioneer\u00a0Maria Dickin. Issued to animals\u00a0that\u00a0had displayed great bravery\u00a0and\/or devotion during conflict, it has been awarded\u00a074 times so far, to\u00a0pigeons, dogs, horses and cats.\u00a0<\/p> Here we play tribute to some genuine animal heroes.<\/p> What animals have played a part in British wars?<\/h2>
British animal war heroes<\/h2>
Warrior \u2013 ‘the horse the Germans couldn\u2019t kill’<\/strong><\/h3>