With Remembrance Day and Veteran's Day coming up this November 11, thought this might be an appropriate post. And hopefully a very interesting/enjoyable post. Maybe throw in some "Aaaaww!" reactions too! It really is such a neat and almost hidden part of history.
Past or present, it goes without saying that military personnel and animals can form a bond of love, lightheartedness, understanding and normalcy during times of chaos. Dogs, horses, donkeys, mules and birds all played a significant role throughout the history of modern warfare, both formally via serving and emotionally.
Cats were no exception! They were beloved companions and mascots. In World War I alone, 500,000 army cats were sent abroad with soldiers to take care of the rodent problems in the trenches and ships. It was also believed that cats were able to detect the scent of upcoming gas attacks. There are many stories of cats saving the lives of people, being respected as heroes. It wasn't unusual either for the soldiers themselves to save and adopt other felines along the way, and take care of them. They would often split their own rations to give to their kitties.
As this is a cat site, you can comprehend quickly where this theme is going. Here is a list of old historical photos from the World Wars of the 20th century, which include English, Scottish, Australian, New Zealand, Canadian, German, Soviet and American soldiers (and likely other nationalities) with cats. A nice opportunity to also honour and remember them, along with their furry counterparts.
Past or present, it goes without saying that military personnel and animals can form a bond of love, lightheartedness, understanding and normalcy during times of chaos. Dogs, horses, donkeys, mules and birds all played a significant role throughout the history of modern warfare, both formally via serving and emotionally.
Cats were no exception! They were beloved companions and mascots. In World War I alone, 500,000 army cats were sent abroad with soldiers to take care of the rodent problems in the trenches and ships. It was also believed that cats were able to detect the scent of upcoming gas attacks. There are many stories of cats saving the lives of people, being respected as heroes. It wasn't unusual either for the soldiers themselves to save and adopt other felines along the way, and take care of them. They would often split their own rations to give to their kitties.
As this is a cat site, you can comprehend quickly where this theme is going. Here is a list of old historical photos from the World Wars of the 20th century, which include English, Scottish, Australian, New Zealand, Canadian, German, Soviet and American soldiers (and likely other nationalities) with cats. A nice opportunity to also honour and remember them, along with their furry counterparts.
