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| The Animals' War (I.W.M. Exhibition) Jan Hyrman |
| This September I went to London again, this time finally with my girlfriend, who missed a few previous trip because of her university studies. Besides the traditional sightseeing round we also managed to find enough time to see the new I.W.M. exhibition called The Animals' War (by the time you are reading this it might not be as new as it was at the time when we saw it) - after all, the Imperial War Museum was literally just around the corner from the International House (a hall of the University of Westminster). At first, I was suprised by having to pay an entrance fee to the exhibition as last time we were admitted for free. However, the staff explained to us that these special exhibitions are paid, while the general admittance is for free. We went through the "Big Exhibits Hall" and up the stairs directly to the new exhibition, as a short look through the biggest exhibits revealed that only little has changed or has been added since I last visited the I.W.M. with my friend Jan #2 (see another general article on the I.W.M. here). |
| The first part of the exhibition is also the saddest of all as it shows not only the early history of animals participating in conflicts all over the world, but especially photos and exhibits showing what the animals had to endure during the First and Second World Wars. Tables and training manual excerpts are shown here with limits of weight which different animals are able to carry, striking photos of horses dragging a field gun, both the horses and the gun half submerged in mud of a First World War battlefield. It is a disturbing reminder of the fact that animals fought as hard as any man or woman involved in the history of warfare. |
| All of the stories are very moving, as some of the animals were actually pets enjoying a civilian life with their masters, before being taken in to join the forces. Mules and horses were being "recruited" from farms all around the U.K., with some of the masters parting with their animals with tears. As usual, the I.W.M. special exhibition is a very impressive display worth visiting even if you have to pay some entrance fee. It puts together facts and exhibits which you would not be able to see elsewhere and above all, helps you grasp a very important fact - that there was a lot of nameless, dumb casualties in all wars fought by mankind. |
| Horses, mules, donkeys, camels, elephants, oxen, reindeer and dogs all served as beasts of burden, carrying troops, equipment and supplies during the First World War. 828,000 horses, mules, camels, donkeys and oxen served with the British forces alone at the end of the Great War. The introductory part of the exhibitions made the greatest impression on me, but this really is only a small part of the whole display - other parts of the exhibition show individual animals, including dogs, cats, parrots, rats, bears or goats, and their stories in different theatres of war. There is also more information on different activities performed by the animals throughout the history, including research, mine-clearance or guard duties. |
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| A parachute dog being dropped from the sky over the heads of visitors as they are entering the main hall of the Imperial War Museum. |
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| My girlfriend trying on a gauntlet at the very start of the exhibition. |
| Me posing with a sailor dog statue. |
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