War Animal Day remembers and celebrates nation’s military animals

The red poppy is familiar to most Australians as a symbol of remembrance* for soldiers who have served our nation in war and peace. But did you know there’s also a purple poppy to remember animals?

War Animal Day – or Purple Poppy Day – is celebrated annually on February 24. This is a special day for remembering animals that served in war and faced all the hardships* and horrors of life on the frontline* alongside soldiers and other servicemen and servicewomen.

HISTORY OF SERVICE
While there are fewer animals serving in the military these days, Australia’s calls to war – including the Boer War (1899-1902), World War I (1914-1918) and World War II (1939-1945) – have brought many animals into battle.

The range of animals may also come as a surprise. While today drones* are used for aerial surveillance* and military defence, in earlier times pigeons were used, some of which even carried cameras.

And before the arrival of all-terrain vehicles*, army supplies were carried by donkeys and mules.

In World War I, the ANZACS could not have crossed the desert nor completed the famous Battle of Beersheba* without the many camels and horses that transported soldiers and their supplies.

On 31 October 1917, the heavily fortified town of Beersheba was the scene of a historic charge by the men of the 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade. Commencing at dusk, the brigade stormed the town on horseback and were able to secure the town before it could be destroyed by the retreating Turkish force.

HONOURING ANIMALS
In recent years, more memorials have been built in various locations around Australia to acknowledge the service and sacrifice of animals. From horses, mules, donkeys, camels and dogs, to elephants, cats and pigeons, the honour roll is a long one.

“While there are more stories hidden in history than we can ever possibly know, some were written down and have become famous,” said Wear a Purple Poppy author Fiona White, whose book commemorates the long history of animals serving with distinction alongside the Australian Defence Force.

One of the best known stories is that of English-born Australian Imperial Force Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick. Ordered to help and move the injured, Simpson used donkeys Abdul and Murphy to help him to carry many wounded soldiers to safety on the Gallipoli Peninsula in World War I. The bravery of “the man with the donkey” remains an enduring symbol of Australian mateship, courage and tenacity at Gallipoli, where the ANZAC legend was born.

Over 130,000 horses were shipped out of Australia to carry soldiers through many battles across the Middle East and Europe. Many of these horses were donated but some were signed up with their owners when they joined.

“One of the more famous horses was Bill, a stallion who, though initially declared unrideable, later saved lives when he carried Major Shanahan, and four soldiers to safety in the Battle of Romani,” Ms White said.

A permanent monument to Bill and Major Shanahan stands in Murrumburrah in New South Wales.

WHY SOME ANIMALS WERE LEFT BEHIND
Today, the dogs that serve in the military come home when their service is finished. But the animals who served during the World Wars and other conflicts had to be left behind. Tough but important quarantine* restrictions – plus a government mandate*, issued in June 1918 – meant that only one of the horses shipped out during World War I ever returned home.

“Some dogs were sneaked home when the war was over, and a few others made it home before the quarantine restrictions came into force,” Ms White said.

“From the cats on ships, the pigeons who flew through storms and gunfire to carry life-saving messages, and the dogs who warned, comforted, searched for and helped thousands of soldiers, the purple poppy is a symbolic hand to our heart.”

PURPLE POPPY DAY ANNOUNCED IN PARLIAMENT
In federal parliament in 2019, MP Scott Buchholz announced that February 24 each year would be officially recognised as War Animal Day, or Purple Poppy Day.

“Today I rise to pay tribute to this often-overlooked servant of the Australian military,” Mr Buchholz said during his speech.

“Throughout history in war and peacetime, animals and mankind have worked alongside each other.

“The purple poppy symbolises all animals who have died during conflict.”

As well as on February 24, the purple poppy can be worn alongside the red poppy on Australia’s traditional remembrance days, such as Anzac Day on April 25 and Remembrance Day on November 11.

Wear a Purple Poppy by Fiona White is published by Hachette Australia and illustrated by Kathleen O’Hagan.

POLL

• GLOSSARY
• remembrance: act of remembering and showing respect for those who have died or to acknowledge a past event
• hardships: difficulties, challenges, conditions that cause suffering
• frontline: the area closest to where opposing armies meet and fight, the area of conflict
• drones: an aircraft or small flying device without a pilot that’s controlled remotely
• surveillance: act of keeping close watch, monitoring activity, movement and behaviour
• all-terrain vehicles: ATVs, a small motor vehicle with three or four wheels that is designed for use on various types of terrain
• quarantine: period of time in which a person or animal must keep away from others in order to prevent the spread of disease
• mandate: official or formal instruction or command

EXTRA READING

Why we mark Anzac Day each year

Anzac diary sheds new light on WWI

Special police medal for hero dog Max

QUICK QUIZ

1. What happened on 31 October 1917?
2. Which animal was used for carrying messages and aerial surveillance in wartime long before drones?
3. What is the official flower of War Animal Day?
4. On which other significant dates might that flower be worn?
5. What kind of animal did John Simpson use to help wounded soldiers to safety?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. War through their eyes
You are probably familiar with stories involving animal heroes of war as mentioned in the Kids News article. Rewrite one of the stories you know from the perspective of the animal, for example, Simpson and his donkey (teachers can find a version of this story being read aloud at youtube.com/watch?v=LcvlGfzSJkk)

Use emotive language to describe how the animals were feeling doing the important and human life-saving job they did during the war.

Share your version with a classmate and compare similarities and differences.|

Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, History, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
Design and draw an advertisement for Purple Poppy Day and all that it represents, from what you’ve learned from the article.

Your teacher may choose one to share at an assembly or in a school newsletter.

Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Visual Arts, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
Wow word recycle
There are plenty of wow words (ambitious pieces of vocabulary) being used in the article. Some are in the glossary, but there might be extra ones from the article that you think are exceptional as well.

Identify all the words in the article that you think are not common words, and particularly good choices for the writer to have chosen.

Select three words you have highlighted to recycle into your own sentences.

If any of the words you identified are not in the glossary, write up your own glossary for them.

Extension
Find a bland sentence from the article to up-level. Can you add more detail and description? Can you replace any base words with more specific synonyms?

Down-level for a younger audience. Find a sentence in the article that is high level. Now rewrite it for a younger audience so they can understand the words without using the glossary.