Monday, December 1, 2025

We keep in mind: Tales of veterans and animals who served


This Remembrance Day, be a part of us as we mirror on the sacrifices of our veterans who’ve served Canada and the brave animals who stood by their sides in occasions of warfare and peace.   

Extra than simply companions    

Throughout wartime, canine had quite a lot of beneficial roles. One position was as mascots and companions to front-line troopers. On this position they not solely gave troopers hope on the entrance strains but additionally helped to lower the variety of rodents within the trenches by scaring them away.    

Canine additionally carried written messages between models, and had been employed to put phone strains. Spools had been laid on the canine’ backs that might unroll as they moved ahead. Canine may additionally odor poison fuel earlier than troopers, find wounded troopers on the battlefield, and carry medical backpacks.      

Mascots and protectors    

Like canine, cats served as companions and mascots in wartime. Aboard naval ships cats not solely protected meals rations from rodents but additionally prevented communication strains from being chewed via by rodents. Controlling the rodent inhabitants additionally lessened the unfold of illness.     

Cats have been identified to detect bombs, with households counting on their cat’s senses to alert them to incoming bombs. Learn extra concerning the position of cats in wartime right here.    

Credit score: Canada. Dept. of Nationwide Defence/Library and Archives Canada/PA-000126
Courageous messengers of the skies   

Throughout each World Wars, provider pigeons delivered messages throughout the strains. It was a really harmful job with the enemy at all times making an attempt to shoot them down. Throughout the First World Warfare, 600 pigeons had been utilized in France alone by the U.S. military. The UK employed about 250,000 homing pigeons throughout the Second World Warfare for a lot of functions, together with speaking with spies behind enemy strains.     

Canaries had been utilized in wartime to detect poison fuel on the entrance line. They might additionally sign an absence of oxygen within the tunnels.        

birds in war
Credit score: Canada. Dept. of Nationwide Defence/Library and Archives Canada/
Battling aspect by aspect  

Throughout each World Wars, mules carried artillery, and horses transported troops and hauled subject weapons, amongst many different very important roles. Horses and mules had been utilized by the Canadian Military Service Corps to hold mounted troops, panniers, artillery and haul subject weapons.   

Learn extra tales of  horses in wartime right here.    

horses in war
Credit score: Canada. Dept. of Nationwide Defence/Library and Archives Canada/

 

This Remembrance Day, be a part of us in remembering the sacrifice of those that fought for our freedom and the security of our nation. We’ll always remember.     

 

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