Nation remembers and contribution of animals in freedom fight is honoured too
London’s Cenotaph in Whitehall and ,inset, a single purple poppy among a sea of red.
Our War Horse Memorial in Ascot
Here at The War Horse Memorial we have found that a growing number of people across the country during a time of remembrance, want to wear a purple pin badge or tie a knitted poppy of the collars of their pets. The symbol to commemorate the work and sacrifice of animals that served in war.
For the first time, a purple poppy was permitted to appear on the steps of the Cenotaph, in London, on Remembrance Sunday alongside a sea of red (see inset) to remember the dead of two world wars and other conflicts.
This one single knitted poppy, placed close to the wreath laid by His Majesty King Charles, says more than a thousand words ever could. Across the UK people gathered around war memorials in cities, towns and villages. At 11am on Remembrance Sunday, and again on November 11 at 11am, the date and time when the First World War came to an end in 1918, two minute’s silence was observed as a way of honouring the service of men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Among the wreaths laid and the tributes made were those to the animals who also played their part. Hundreds of thousands of horses, mules and donkeys, dogs, cats and pigeons lost their lives helping us secure the freedom we enjoy today.
Led by tributes at the feet of Poppy our War Horse, in Ascot, these images show just some of the wonderful ways that our supporters chose to remember animals of war.
Patrick, a therapy pony, remembers the fallen - humans and animals - from his home town of Torquay.
Little Louis, star of the Riding for the Disabled in Amersham, wears his poppy with pride and helped decorate the ponies in advance of Remembrance Sunday.
Miss Lottie at the Your Horse Live Show, in Stonleigh Park, Warwickshire.
Our area of reflection in Ascot with giant purple poppies among the red.
Harvey and Kyla from Ash, in Surrey, wear their poppies with pride.
Army cadets join members of the Donkey Breed Society at the Museum of The Queen’s Royal Hussars in Warwick to highlight the role donkeys and horses played in war.
Fudge, the much loved Riding for the Disable pony, poses for the camera.
Woody, a resident of Cuckfield in West Sussex, pays his respects at Holy Trinity Church in the village.
A wreath of purple poppies laid in the Mid Sussex town of Haywards Heath.
The RSPCA charity shop in Shringham, Norfolk, sold purple poppies and pin. badges and raised £120 to help us support animal sanctuaries.
The majestic Canterbury Horse, which stands in the shadow of the cathedral, wears one giant poppy made up of 50 smaller ones.
And Fudge again, resplendent in a mane of purple poppies.