Animals in War Memorial
Encyclopedia
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 24 November 2004 by the Princess Royal
, it exists as a memorial to the countless animals that have served and died under British military command throughout history.
"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"
'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.
Park Lane (road)
Park Lane is a major road in the City of Westminster, in Central London.-History:Originally a country lane running north-south along what is now the eastern boundary of Hyde Park, it became a fashionable residential address from the eighteenth century onwards, offering both views across Hyde Park...
, on the edge of London’s Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
and was designed by leading English sculptor, David Backhouse. Unveiled on 24 November 2004 by the Princess Royal
Anne, Princess Royal
Princess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
, it exists as a memorial to the countless animals that have served and died under British military command throughout history.
Inscriptions
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"
Construction
The memorial was inspired by Jilly CooperJilly Cooper
Jilly Cooper OBE is an English author. She started her career as a journalist and wrote numerous works of non-fiction before writing several romance novels, the first of which appeared in 1975. She is most famous for writing the Rutshire Chronicles.-Early life:Jilly Sallitt was born in Hornchurch,...
's book, Animals in War, and was made possible by a specially set up fund of £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
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.
External links
- http://www.animalsinwar.org.uk - The Official Animals In War Memorial Fund Website.
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/realmedia/2004/11/animals_in_war.ram - An audio link from Clinton Rogers of the BBC.
- 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.