Animals in War Memorial

History

The memorial was inspired by Jilly Cooper's 1983 book Animals in War, and was made possible by a specially created fund of £1.4 million from public donations of which Cooper was a co-trustee. The memorial consists of a 55 ft by 58 ft (16.8 m by 17.7 m) curved Portland stone wall: the symbolic arena of war, emblazoned with images of various struggling animals, along with two heavily laden bronze mules progressing up the stairs of the monument, and a bronze horse and bronze dog beyond it looking into the distance.

Located on Park Lane, at the junction with Upper Brook Street, on the eastern edge of the park, The Animals in War Memorial was officially opened on 24 November 2004 by Anne, Princess Royal.

In May 2013 it was one of two London war memorials vandalised on the same night. The word "Islam" was spray-painted on it causing £2,766 in damage, and the nearby RAF Bomber Command Memorial suffered £6,500 in damage. A 31-year-old man later admitted to vandalising the memorials and was charged for a total of 94 vandalism and destruction of property offences carried out over several weeks against homes, cars, memorials and a church, causing over £50,000 in damage.

Inscriptions

The inscriptions are in various forms and sizes and are all uppercase designed and cut by Andrew Whittle. Other than the featured messages, there are several inscriptions on the rear or outside, and on the inner edges of the wings (in the gap), attributing the creators and funders.

On the face of the right wing when viewed from the front or inside:

: Main heading; the largest and heaviest cut inscription

: Directly beneath the main heading that served and died alongside British and allied forces in wars and campaigns throughout time}}

: Beneath and to the right of the main heading

On the face of the left wing when viewed from the rear or outside (on the reverse of the main heading):

and various animals were employed to support British and Allied Forces in wars and campaigns over the centuries and as a result millions died · From the pigeon to the elephant they all played a vital role in every region of the world in the cause of human freedom · Their contribution must never be forgotten}}

References

References

1. "Animals in War Memorial". IndieLondon.
2. (2004-11-24). "Animal war heroes statue unveiled".
3. (2013-08-01). "Bid for war hero animals memorial". [[BBC News]].
4. Meikle, James. (2013-05-28). "War memorials vandalised in central London". The Guardian.
5. (2013-05-27). "Vandals deface war memorials in London parks". [[BBC News]].
6. Dixon, Hayley. (2013-05-27). "War memorials vandalised".
7. (2014-04-30). "Man sprayed 'Islam' on war memorial". [[BBC News]].