When World War I began in August 1914, the British Army was drastically unprepared for the conflict's scale. It owned only 25,000 horses, a fraction of what was needed for full mobilization. To fix this, the government enacted the Horse Mobilization Scheme. Army agents spread across the country with power to requisition animals from civilians and businesses. In the first few weeks of the war alone, they seized approximately 120,000 horses. Owners who could not prove their animals were essential for farming had no choice but to surrender them. Even this was not enough. By 1917, the British Army would have over a million horses and mules in its service worldwide, as the government turned to international markets in the United States and Canada to supplement its own domestic supplies.
Animals in the Trenches
The horses, mules, dogs, pigeons and even slugs that served in the First World War, from requisitioned farm horses to the pigeon Cher Ami, and the memorial that honours them.
The Great Requisition
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many horses were used in WWI?
Over the course of the war, Britain alone deployed over one million horses and mules to the Western Front. It's estimated that a total of 8 million horses, donkeys, and mules died across all participating nations.
Did dogs really help find wounded soldiers?
Yes. Known as Mercy Dogs or 'Sanitätshunde', they were trained by German and French forces to search No Man's Land for the wounded. They carried medical supplies and could lead medics to injured soldiers who were unable to move.
Was the pigeon Cher Ami real?
Yes, Cher Ami was a real homing pigeon who served with the U.S. Army Signal Corps in France. He is credited with delivering a critical message that saved the 'Lost Battalion' in October 1918, despite being grievously wounded in flight.
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