28,000
"Thank heavens we've got a navy".
Less than three months before the start of the First World War, on 28th July, 1914, the popular perception of Great Britain’s ability to defend itself against invasion was neatly summed up in this ‘Punch’ cartoon by Leonard Raven-Hill (1867-1942)
‘Punch or The London Charivari’ was a weekly British magazine established in 1841. Its content was humorous and satirical. It was published for 150 years, closing in 1992. Four years later it was revived, but finally closed for good in 2002.
Great Britain had no conscription (state-ordered enlistment to a national, usually military service) until 1916, two years after the commencement of war, while all the other belligerents had conscription from the start. Thus, Great Britain was always under strength and had great difficulty replacing casualties. By the end of the war the land force numbered just over 2 million. However, nearly 5½ million served in the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in total, of whom around 880,000 perished. Thousands of others suffered life-altering injuries.
The British Army had 28,000 veterinary staff serving in France alone. There were huge animal hospitals to care for sick animals which had often been damaged due to neglect and overwork as much as injury.
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Two million horses, mules and donkeys were used during the First World War In addition to carrying cavalry troops, they moved heavy artillery, transported stores and ammunition and drew ambulances. War dogs were used as messenger dogs and to carry medical supplies and water to injured soldiers in no-man’s land. Pigeons were also used to carry military messages.
I am glad the animals were cared for during their service. I didn't know GB didn't have conscription, I thought all countries did.
ReplyDeleteThere are many in this country who think we still should have conscription.
Delete28,000 veterinary staff alone in France alone. An amazing figure.
ReplyDeleteBack then people used to always believe what governments told them. Punch was invaluable in keeping minds somewhat cynical.
I think Private Eye has taken over that role now and has carried it out since 1961.
DeleteHaHa! Reminds me of a silly story during the
ReplyDelete2nd world war....Typical British stupidity...
Dogs were trained with bombs strapped to
their backs, to run under oncoming German tanks,
the bombs were then detonated by their handlers,
the theory being to blow up the tank, and of course
the dog...! :(.
When the dogs were let loose, they ran towards the
tanks, the bombs were detonated on the way, the
noise of the tanks frightened the dogs, who then
ran back to their handlers...HaHa! you know the rest
of course....! :(.
💛🌱🌸🌱💜🌱🌸🌱💜💛🌱🌸🌱💛🌱🌸🌱💜
It was the Soviets who trained dogs to do that, not the British. Horrible!
DeleteI don't pity the humans, they should have a brain, but using innocent animals for their dirty jobs drives me crazy ! When I see the paintings of the Waterloo battle with all these horses laying on the ground bleeding or dead, I think for what this massacre ?
ReplyDeleteI agree. Animals have no choice and cannot 'conscientiously object'.
DeleteThe war horses are an interest of mine and I have a copy of a poem written by Henry Chappell called The Soldier's Kiss telling the story of an actual incident of a dying horse lying on the road to a battery position. The poem is five verses long, so if you want me to put it in a comment I will do. It was because of my interest that I started many years ago (and still do) supporting the Brook charity for horses/ponies etc as many had been left and never brought back home after the war. I also wrote a poem myself to enter a competition with Brook.
ReplyDeleteHope you don't mind..But! l do know the poem....
DeleteHere's a link to it on line.....
http://holyjoe.org/poetry/chappell.htm
Animals abandoned in war, for whatever reason, are a sad, sad sight.
DeleteThank you, Willie, for the link. Now I can't see - something in my eye . . .
DeleteAh yes, Punch. It's closure caused a big hole in dentists' waiting rooms!
ReplyDeleteIt's been replaced with lifestyle magazines!
ReplyDeleteWe had conscription here in Belgium until 1993!
ReplyDelete28,000 veterinary staff serving in France alone is quite mind-boggling. It breaks my heart to think of all those poor, doomed animals ... xxx
Heart-breaking - the loss of so much life of all kinds.
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