Military veterans honour animals in war

Military and police force veterans as well as animal lovers turned out in their numbers at the inaugural animals in war parade at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria to honour the service and suffering of countless animals and birds during the country’s wars and campaigns in the past and present.

The service opened with the placing of the brand-new banner for the Animals in War Veterans Association. It also saw the last time that the Savannah banner was displayed at a non-Savannah parade. Operation Savannah in Angola in 1975 and 1976, was the first major land campaign that the South African Defence Force undertook after the Second World War.  During that operation, Rifleman Adam Schonveldt and his tracker dog, Rinty, were killed in action in southern Angola.

Speaking during the inauguration service, veteran Roche Vermaak, who was instrumental in organising the memorial, said the animals of war, the unsung heroes of the battlefield included horses, dogs, cats, pigeons, a baboon and a springbok, and served valiantly alongside human soldiers.  In the annals of history their stories often remain untold, their sacrifices overlooked and their bravery uncelebrated, yet their contributions were immense, their loyalty unwavering and their spirits indomitable. Vermaak made himself a promise to build the memorial after the loss of his police dog, Shep, in 1987 and canine ambassador Marcus in 2023.

South Africa’s more unusual mascots included a springbok called Nancy. Nancy is the only animal in military history to be accorded full military funeral honours and to be buried in an Allied war cemetery. The famous mascot of the 4th South African Infantry Regiment died of pneumonia in Belgium during the severe winter of 1918 during World War I.

Another was a baboon named Jackie. He was the official mascot of the 3rd Transvaal Regiment and went everywhere with the soldiers who served in the trenches in France during the First World War. He was given a uniform, complete with buttons and regimental badges, a cap, a pay book, and his own set of rations. During his time in the military, he achieved the rank of corporal (the only baboon to do so in history!), received an award for bravery after he was wounded by enemy fire, and ended his days outside Pretoria back on the family farm of his owner Albert Marr, in 1921.

Retired Major General Lawrence Smith, who opened the memorial with his canine friend Wolfi, noted there is also a medal of bravery for animals. In 1943, the Dickin Medal was created to recognise outstanding acts of gallantry and devotion to duty displayed by animals serving with the Armed Forces or Civil Defence units. It is regarded as the Victoria Cross for animals. By January 2023, the Dickin Medal had been awarded over 70 times: to 38 dogs, 32 pigeons, 4 horses and 1 cat. The most recent award was to a dog in Afghanistan in 2023.

The Chairperson of the Memorial Services Council, Marina Valentine, said while there are a number of other smaller memorials for animals across the country who died in service, this memorial is both unique and important.

She said:” It honours not only those animals that served South Africa, but also Rhodesia, Angola and Mozambique that due to political pressures never had the time to build memorials for their own animals. While we pay homage to those animals whose names are inscribed on these walls this is a living memorial, and with its unveiling will hopefully attract more visitors, who will in turn will help complete the puzzle and enable us to add the names of dogs, horses or any other animals who are missing.”

In keeping with the focus on animals in war, the Last Post and the Reveille – synonymous with acts of remembrance – were sounded by trumpet player Laura van Niekerk on her horse, Legacy.

Around 50 wreathes were laid by various veterans’ organisations, family members, as well as the City of Tshwane, the French military attache, the Tshwane SPCA, and the Heritage Foundation, which was instrumental in establishing the memorial.

A fitting and poignant tribute to those animals remembered here today as well as the unsung heroes was written by Graham Bentley in 2018 to mark the centenary of the end of World War I.

We are the soldiers who have no voice

In war or peace, we have no choice

Yet we toil and fight alongside men

We do all we do, the best way we can

We bleed and we die, we bark neigh and cry

Our kin beside men in the mud and sand lie

Our number are millions in all of the wars

We march not on two feet but on four hooves and paws

We give freely our loyalty hard work and trust

We don’t understand causes and if they are just

But in harness or saddle, collar and lead

We will follow regardless as this is our creed

Forget us not, all the lives that we gave

Our sacrifice given from birth to the grave

We are the soldiers who serve in your wars

We march not on two feet but four hooves and paws