§ 13. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Secretary of State for War the number of, carrier pigeons, dogs, horses and other animals which were used by the Army during the war; and what was the approximate number of casualties involved in each case.
§ Mr. J. FreemanAs the reply consists of figures and relevant detail, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. Peter FreemanWill my hon. Friend consider the desirability of consultation with the Secretary of State for War, with a view to erecting or arranging for a suitable memorial to the animals who gave their lives for the Allied cause during the war?
§ Mr. FreemanI would like notice of that question.
§ Following is the reply:
§ The number of carrier pigeons fluctuated considerably due to breeding and to losses from natural causes. The peak total in use by Royal Signals was 157 lofts in all theatres of war, containing in all about 15,700 pigeons. Losses from enemy action were infinitesimal. The number of animals employed by the Army in all theatres during the war amounted to the following (figures are approximate):
| Horses | … | … | … | 40,000 |
| Mules | … | … | … | 120,000 |
| Bullocks | … | … | … | 6,000 |
| Camels | … | … | … | 16,000 |
| Dogs | … | … | … | 5,000 |
§ These figures, apart from dogs, represent riding and transport animals and do not take into account the millions of cattle, sheep and other slaughter-stock handled by the Army prior to being used as food for the troops. Comprehensive figures of casualties would take some time to collect, particularly those relating to the Far East, where animals were most extensively used, but it can be stated that battle mortality represented only a very small proportion of the total.