Animals in War Memorial

Hyde Park was definitely a must-see when I was visiting London, but I did not expect to find such a moving memorial located at the outskirts of the park. 

The Animals in War Memorial is an emotional tribute to the countless animals that lost their lives alongside British forces in the two World Wars and subsequent military conflicts. Located at Brook Gate, this touching memorial was constructed in 2004, which marked the 90th anniversary of the start of the First World War. The memorial shows a walled entrance with many struggling animals and two bronze work horses walking towards it. On the wall are also the animals, depicting the fact that other animals than horses, including elephants, camels, donkeys, were used as soldiers during the wars. One of the most moving parts of the tribute is the writing on one side of the memorial, "They had no choice." As an animal rights advocate, I found myself tearing up at the sight of the memorial and the thought of not only how many human lives were lost but also how many innocent animals perished during the many wars and military conflicts. 

The memorial serves as a reminder that mankind needs to not only treat each other, but also our furry friends, with respect and dignity.