In 2009, on the grounds of the Australian War Memorial an artist named Steven Holland, placed a bronze horse head on a tear shaped plinth of granite. The plinth is deliberately accessible so visitors are able to touch the horse’s head as if it were actually a living horse.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A short period of observation of the horse head and you notice that most visitors are not able to resist stroking it. It serves as a physical connection to all animals that have served in war and is intended to have us pause and remember that we humans take animals who have no rights of objection, to war with us. I dedicate this week’s Valley Veterans column to the memory of these animals.
Director of the Australian War Memorial Dr Brendon Nelson, in his address at Pozieres, France, last year said that “respect for our own humanity can be found in respect for animals, our animal heroes – for that is what they are”.
Dr Nelson went on to mention the horses, donkeys, mules, pigeons, camels, dogs, cats, canaries and glow worms that we used across multiple theatres of war.
Perhaps the most well known of these animals is that donkey that helped a soldier by the name of Simpson bring wounded ANZACs to medical help in Gallipoli. Simpson was was eventually killed during his duty, however it is believed his donkey lived on working under a succession of ANZAC Medics.
In a tribute to Simpson and his donkey, Colonel (later General) John Monash, wrote: “Private Simpson and his little beast earned the admiration of everyone at the upper end of the valley. They worked all day and night throughout the whole period since the landing, and the help rendered to the wounded was invaluable. Simpson knew no fear and moved unconcernedly amid shrapnel and rifle fire, steadily carrying out his self-imposed task day by day, and he frequently earned the applause of the personnel for his many fearless rescues of wounded men from areas subject to rifle and shrapnel fire.”
There is not enough space in this newspaper to go into the many stories of animals that have been there to support Australian service men and women.
There are the legendary horses, known as whalers who despite doing their duty were not able to be bought back to home soil. I doubt there is a more noble animal in history than the whaler. And for me, as a veteran of the conflict in Afghanistan, there are two dogs who’s names are mentioned with reverence in my house.
One is Sarbi, the explosive detection dog who was missing in action when her handler was wounded during a battle. Sarbi was living with Afghan locals for 14 months until identified by an American soldier and was returned to her handler at the Aussie base at Tarin Kowt.
But perhaps the strongest reminder of the sacrifices animals make for us is the explosive detection dog Herbie who was killed in action along with his handler Sapper Darren Smith and his mate Sapper Jacob Moreland, who were searching for improvised explosive devises that posed a threat to both soldiers and Afghan civilians. Herbie and Darren are buried together.
Dr Nelson is correct when when he says that if not for dogs like Herbie the list of 42 Australian service personal killed in Afghanistan would have been much longer.
Even after conflict, our animal heroes are still there supporting us. There are now countless assistance dogs and just plain old pets who stand beside those who still suffer from conflict and help them through the day. Lest we forget.
About the author: Mick Birtles is a recently retired army officer now living in Nambucca Heads. During his 36-year career, Birtles served in Bougainville, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for command and leadership. Here he shares his interest in the issues effecting veterans on the Mid North Coast.
Read more from Mick Birtles:
