Working animals and soldiers in World War One

2 October 2026

Remember their service. Break the cycle

India Hurford-Jones

The story of the animals who served in WW1 and WW2 lives on through working horses, donkeys and mules today.

Every year around Remembrance Week, Brooke pauses to reflect on the millions of horses, donkeys and mules who served alongside people in times of war. 

These animals carried supplies, pulled heavy loads and bore soldiers into battle. Many never came home. Their sacrifice is woven into our shared history, a reminder of both the deep resilience of human–animal partnership and the cost of conflict. 

An-old-war-horse-in-poor-condition

Watch: Their story didn't end with the war

See how Brooke's Every Horse Remembered campaign honours the animals who served alongside people in war and supports Brooke's work protecting working animals today.

From past sacrifice to present struggles

Working animals have always been lifelines. In the First and Second World Wars, horses and donkeys carried food, ammunition and the injured through unimaginable conditions. 

Today, while the battlefields may look different, these animals are still relied upon by families caught up in hardship and uncertainty. 

Across regions facing crisis or instability, horses, donkeys and mules continue to transport food, water, and vital supplies. For many families, they remain the difference between survival and despair.  

This resilience mirrors the role they once played during wartime, yet too often, the hardships they endure remain unseen. 

Soldier brushes donkey whilst dog watches in North Africa, 1943.

Breaking the cycle

The lesson from history is clear: we cannot allow this suffering to repeat itself. Brooke’s mission is to break the cycle by ensuring working animals of today and tomorrow don’t face the same fate as those of the past. 

We do this through: 

  • Emergency response – delivering urgent care when crises hit, such as our recent emergency appeal to help animals in the Pakistan floods. 

  • Veterinary services – providing life-saving treatment and preventative care. 

  • Education for owners – equipping communities with knowledge to protect their animals. 

  • Policy influence – working with governments to safeguard animals in times of peace and conflict. 

Each of these actions strengthens the bond between people and animals - a bond that has endured for centuries and must be protected for the future. 

Donkey in Senegal drought

Donate today

Honour their legacy with kindness. Your donation can help give working horses, donkeys and mules the care, protection and life they deserve today and continue to help break the cycle of suffering. 

Donation form

Learn more about Every Horse Remembered

Respect and responsibility

Brooke’s Every Horse Remembered campaign is not just about looking back with respect; it’s also about looking forward with responsibility. As we honour the animals who gave their lives in the past, we must act to protect those alive today. 

Supporting Brooke helps to ensure working animals aren’t forgotten, left behind, or condemned to repeat history’s hardship. So we can build a kinder, more compassionate future.