ANIMALS OF WW1
Created By Thomas, Sam, Sydney, Audrey, and Gabby
History of Animals in WW1
During World War One, many people were recognized and awarded for their bravery. So were some animals! Animals had a very important role in War. Whether it was from detecting to when poison gas was released into the air, carrying important messages, or just being a friend to the soldiers, the animals were very important. There were about 16 million animals used in this war. Animals were so important to the war that in 1915 they made the animals their own gas masks. In this website, you will learn about their importance in the war!
FAMOUS ANIMALS IN WW1
Learn About a Few Important Animals
During the war, many people were recognized and awarded for their bravery. So were some brave animals. While many animals were used in the war, here are some of the most recognized and important animals.
SERGEANT STUBBY
The First Dog Ever Given Rank in The U.S. Army
Sergeant Stubby was a bull terrior mutt who served 18 months and participated in 17 battles on the western front. He caught a German spy in Argonne and helped free a French town from the Germans too. At the end of the war, he was injured and taken home by the soldier he had bonded with the most, Robert Conroy.
CHER AMI
"Dearest Friend"
Cher Ami means "Dearest Friend" in English. Cher Ami was a gift from the British to the French. The pigeons had been used by the French first in the war. He was important to the lost battalion. The battalion sent him to their troops on the other side of the Germans, but he was struck and his leg was badly injured. But, Cher Ami still flew 25 miles in 25 minutes, saving the lost battalion.
WARRIOR
"The Horse The Germans Could Not Kill"
Ridden by General Jack Seely, Warrior was the horse the Germans could not kill. He was brave and extremely lucky too. Brough Scott (Grandson of Seely) says, "My grandfather was unbelievably luck with Warrior. One moment he and another horse were standing together, the horses touching noses while the other people marched across a bridge, and there was a sniper and the horse next to him was shot dead."
“Because the one thing they couldn’t blame for everything bad that was happening around them was an animal.”
- Paul Cornish
FUN FACTS!
Fun Facts about animals in WW1
Camels
There was a Camel Corps in World War One. They were four battalions that transported men and equipment. The battalions were raised in Egypt. Carrying all of the equipment and a man on its back, a camel could trot up to 3 miles an hour.
Slugs
Slugs were used in World War One to detect when gas was released into the air. Since the slugs breathe through their skin, they would close up their breathing pores and compress their bodies. The soldiers would see this and know that a gas attack was happening, saving many lives. The slugs also did live through the gas attacks.
Cats
Cats were also used in World War One. They were there as a pet to keep the soldiers company, but were used for much, much more. They would kill rats and other animals that spread diseases in and around the trenches to keep the soldiers healthy. They were also sometimes used as gas detectors.
OUR FIRE BUILDING VIDEO
How we Made Our Fire
In class, we have been learning about what things you need to make a fire like a soldier would in World War One. In this video, one of our group members, Sam, makes a fire! In the video above, you can see how she did it with your own eyes. She made the fire by striking flint against a steel ring at an angle to create sparks. The sparks will catch on the char-cloth, starting a small fire.