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Animals In War Memorial




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 the 24th of November, 2004 by the Princess Royal , it exists as a memorial to the huge number of non-human animals that have served and died under British military command throughout history. Beneath the main header: ''"Animals in War"'', the memorial has two separate inscriptions, the first and larger reading:




''"This monument is dedicated to all the animals that served and died alongside British and allied forces in wars and campaigns throughout time."''



The second, smaller inscription simply reads:



''"They had no choice."''



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 55ft by 58ft curved Portland stone wall: the symbolic arena of war http://www.indielondon.co.uk/Events-Review/animals-in-war-memorial, emblazened 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.






REFERENCES



EXTERNAL LINKS


  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/realmedia/2004/11/animals_in_war.ram - An audio link from Clinton Rogers of the BBC.

  • http://www.indielondon.co.uk/Events-Review/animals-in-war-memorial - A short article on the monument.

  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/content/articles/2004/11/09/david_backhouse_animals_in_war_feature.shtml - An article focusing on the involvement of the sculptor, David Backhouse.

  • http://www.purr-n-fur.org.uk/featuring/war03.html - Another brief article, featuring a number of pictures of the memorial.

  • http://www.harrygray.co.uk/animals.htm - Another article focused on the sculpting of the monument.

  • http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4037873.stm - An article giving substantial detail on particular animals honoured by the memorial.