Animals in War Memorial

The Animals in War Memorial stands as a somber tribute to the millions of creatures that served and died alongside British and Allied forces in conflicts throughout the twentieth century. Unveiled in November two thousand four, the monument sits near Brook Gate on the edge of Hyde Park. Its design was inspired by the book Animals in War by Jilly Cooper, which sparked a national fundraising campaign that eventually collected two million pounds in public donations to bring the project to life. The monument features a fifty-eight-foot curved Portland stone wall that acts as a symbolic gateway between two levels. On the lower level, two bronze mules are depicted struggling as they pull heavy loads, representing the immense physical burden animals carried in the mud and chaos of combat. As you look toward the upper level, a bronze horse and a dog stand free of their burdens, facing forward to represent hope and the endurance of spirit. Carved in relief across the stone wall, you can see a variety of animals, from pigeons used for communications to elephants that hauled supplies through difficult terrain. The simple, poignant inscription on the memorial reads, They had no choice.