9 November 2026
Angela Rippon lays wreath to remember the forgotten animals of war
Broadcaster Angela Rippon CBE paid tribute to the animals who served in wartime efforts by laying a wreath at the Animals in War memorial service in Hyde Park on 6 November 2026
Angela, who is a long-time supporter of Brooke, gave a speech reflecting on the millions of horses, donkeys and mules that served alongside armed forces, carrying soldiers, transporting ammunition and hauling vital supplies through some of the most dangerous conditions in military history.
"It is such a gift to be invited to lay a wreath in remembrance of all the equines who served our country and in recognition of those who continue to do so around the world today. I am always incredibly moved each year when I attend the ceremony and reflect on how these animals, many of whom lost their lives, showed such loyal and unwavering service to humankind."
Lives must not be forgotten
During the First World War alone, an estimated eight million horses, donkeys and mules lost their lives, many succumbing to shellfire, gas attacks, exhaustion, disease and the brutal conditions of the battlefield. The majority never returned home.
Yet the story of service does not end in the history books. Today, an estimated 100 million working horses, donkeys and mules help sustain communities across the world, carrying goods, transporting water and working the land. Around 600 million people rely on these animals to support their livelihoods and provide for their families.
Through its annual Every Horse Remembered campaign, Brooke connects the legacy of animals lost in conflict with the welfare of working animals today, calling for their contributions to be recognised and their lives treated with compassion and respect.
For Angela, who has pledged a gift in her will to Brooke to help protect working animals, the ceremony was an opportunity to ensure none of these animals are forgotten as the country remembers those who served.
“Millions of horses, donkeys and mules served alongside people in wartime with the majority never returning home, yet their vital contribution is too often forgotten. Their sacrifice is woven into our shared history, a reminder of both the deep resilience of human–animal partnership and the cost of conflict. For millions of families around the world, life depends on working animals. They carry water, transport goods, and support livelihoods, but when families face hardship, animal welfare can slip out of reach. That's why Brooke works alongside communities in some of the world's harshest working environments to end suffering and create lasting change for working animals and the people who depend on them. Because when suffering is relentless, our kindness must be too.”
Charity founder with a passion for saving war horses
Brooke was founded in 1934 when Dorothy Brooke, a British woman, was deeply moved by the war horses abandoned in Cairo after the First World War. With support from an appeal letter in the Morning Post newspaper, she set up the Old War Horse Memorial, which became Brooke, and expanded across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
