Animals In Combat

Throughout the history of mankind, animals have taken part in combat, espionage, and have functioned in other ways to fight the wars of the humans. A variety of animals, from insects and bacteria used in biological warfare to better known horses have been used in human warfare since ancient times. Since then, camels, carrier pigeons, elephants, mules, donkeys, bats, and bees have all seen combat in some form. Animals in Combat explores a brief history of military animals throughout the ages, their different roles within this period, what animal warriors are used for today, and what future animals have in modern warfare.

Nigel Allsopp holds a master’s degree in history and teaches full time. He is a veteran himself and was awarded the RSL’s ANZAC of the Year award in 2017 for his charity work across the country. Nigel has been instrumental in ensuring Indigenous soldiers’ history is told. After conducting research into Indigenous soldiers in the Boer War, Nigel was so touched by their brave service to a nation that had often not been kind to them that he raised funds and established Australia’s first Indigenous Light Horse memorial in Logan, Queensland. Nigel has published nine non-fiction books, which he has

Introduction 7 Acronyms 11 Poem 12 Chapter 1 Animals at War Today 13 Animal-borne bombs, Battle Bees, Bat Bombs, Carrier Pigeons Chapter 2 The War Donkey 23 Chapter 3 Combat Mules 29 Chapter 4 War Camels 37 Chapter 5 War Elephants 40 Chapter 6 The Horse 44 The War Horse Chapter 7 Modern Mounted Operations 52 US Security Police Squadron, Other Countries Chapter 8 Marine Mammals 59 U.S. Army Veterinary Staff, Surviving the Cold War Chapter 9 War Dogs 66 I am a War Dog Chapter 6 Pack Animals 74 Oxen, Water Buffalo, Reindeer, Yaks, Llamas, Dogs as pack animals, Horses as pack animals Chapter 11 Special Forces 84 Chapter 12 Ceremonial 90 Chapter 13 Mascots 97 Operation Baghdad Pups Chapter 14 Therapy Animals 100 Chapter 15 Animal training establishments 104 Chapter 16 Use of paramilitary units to patrol borders 109 Chapter 17 The Future 112 Chapter 18 Countries Using Combat Animals Today 116 Israel Defence Forces, Italy, USA, Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Britain, Austria, Argentina About the Author 153 The War Animal’s Prayer 156 Bibliography 158