Australian War Memorial, Research Centre "animals.xml" Guide to the Animals Souvenir Collection Collection number: Souvenirs 12Research Centre Published & Digitised CollectionsCanberra, ACT 2005 Research Centre, Australian War Memorial. All rights reserved. Processed by: Rowan Henderson, 2005Encoded by: Rowan Henderson, 2005 Date completed: 2005 Finding aid written in: EN Descriptive summary Animals Souvenirs Collection 1914 - Contains souvenirs relating to the role of animals in Australia's military history, particularly as unit mascots. Items in this collection have been collected from a variety of different sources and donors. 1 folders, 1 item. Published & Digitised Collections, Research Centre, Australian War Memorial. Administrative information Processing history:

Collection re-housed and re-numbered in 2005.

 Access:

Open.

 Copyright:

Contact Senior Curator, Published & Digitised Collections.

 Preferred citation:

Animals Souvenirs Collection, Australian War Memorial, Souvenirs 12.

 Keywords: Subject:AnimalsMascots Historical background

Animals have played varying and significant roles in Australia's military history, from assisting in battle to providing company and building comradeship within a unit as a mascot. Horses have been used extensively during war as a means of transport, and are especially useful as they are able to traverse deep mud, ditches and river beds that vehicles cannot cross. They have served with patrols, pulled wagons, ambulances and water carts, hauled ammunition and, of course, were the basis of the cavalry. Horses were joined in many of these duties by mules, oxen, camels and donkeys, the most notable example being Simpson and his donkey at Gallipoli.

Other animals, however, have also served during wartime in less well known roles. Dogs were used as messengers and in sentry duties while pigeons were used as war messengers, with the Australian forces even establishing an Australian Corps of Signals Pigeon Service in 1942.

Animals have also featured in our military history as mascots and companions for our forces. Many Australian units in the First and Second World Wars adopted an animal as a mascot. A popular mascot was the dog, but some units took kangaroos to Egypt and units adopted other animals such as monkeys, birds, goats and cats.

References:

Baynes, Ernest Harold, Animal heroes of the Great War ([London]: Macmillon, 1927).

Baker, Peter Shaw, Animal war heroes London: A. & C. Black, 1933).

 Series list Series number Series title and date First World War, 1914-1918 Second World War, 1939-1945 Series description SERIES 1: First World War, 1914-1918 The series contains souvenirs relating to animals during the First World War. 1/1/1 (1 item) A leaflet announcing the death of "Tommy Brown", a koala that was the mascot of the Motor Transport Section of the Third Division Supply Column, Australian Field Force. The leaflet claims that he was the only koala brought alive to England. 1/1/2 (1 item) Postcard of 'Gunner' the dog. Message on back reads, "Gunner' went from Broadmeadows with B Coy 14 Battalion dec 22nd 1914'. He is pictured on board HMAT Ulysses. (RC03932). 1/1/3 (1 item) Postcard of 'Muggins', a dog mascot. He raised $5000 for the Red Cross in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. (RC08882) SERIES 2: Second World War, 1939-1945 The series contains souvenirs relating to animals during the Second World War.