THE Northern Tasmanian Light Horse Troop will be hosting a War Animal Remembrance Day service on Sunday, February 26, at the Campbell Town Cenotaph, and for the second time Longford’s Lesley Pyecroft and her dog Bailey will be taking part.
Lesley has a keen interest in military history, with one grandfather a Military Cross recipient for his services at Dunkirk with the British Medical Army Corp, and her other grandfather a pilot in the English Airforce.
Handlers and their Troop animals will start with a parade at 10.30am before mounting a guard around the Cenotaph for a service at 11am. Troop secretary Terese Binns, of Longford, said that it was a chance to honour the many animals that served Australia during conflicts overseas.
There will be an address by Governor Barbara Baker and Shane Gould will be guest speaker at the event.
The Launceston City Band has rehearsed specifically chosen music for the occasion and Air Force Cadets will mount a catafalque party around the Cenotaph.
“Animals have served beside Australian forces in many theatres of war. They still remain a crucial part of any current conflict today,” Therese said.
“Animals have helped save many soldiers’ lives, deliver supplies, transport troops, render aid to the injured, deliver messages and give emotional support.”
Apart from Light Horse troops representing the 160,000 horses that left Australia during WW1, there will be a range of animals representing our four-legged and winged friends at the service, including Jacob the donkey, festooned with a purple poppy garland made from knitted and crocheted poppies by Cressy’s Country Women’s Association.
The purple poppy is the symbol of remembrance for war animals.