Military Veterans Honour Animals In War
Military and police force veterans as well as animal lovers turned out in their numbers at the inaugural animals in war parade at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria to honour the service and suffering of countless animals and birds during the country's wars and campaigns in the past and present.
The service opened with the placing of the brand-new banner for the Animals in War Veterans Association. It also saw the last time that the Savannah banner was displayed at a non-Savannah parade. Operation Savannah in Angola in 1975 and 1976, was the first major land campaign that the South African Defence Force undertook after the Second World War. During that operation, Rifleman Adam Schonveldt and his tracker dog, Rinty, were killed in action in southern Angola.
Speaking during the inauguration service, veteran Roche Vermaak, who was instrumental in organising the memorial, said the animals of war, the unsung heroes of the battlefield included horses, dogs, cats, pigeons, a baboon and a springbok, and served valiantly alongside human soldiers. In the annals of history their stories often remain untold, their sacrifices overlooked and their bravery uncelebrated, yet their contributions were immense, their loyalty unwavering and their spirits indomitable. Vermaak made himself a promise to build the memorial after the loss of his police dog, Shep, in 1987 and canine ambassador Marcus in 2023.
South Africa's more unusual mascots included a springbok called Nancy. Nancy is the only animal in military history to be accorded full military funeral honours and to be buried in an Allied war cemetery. The famous mascot of the 4th South African Infantry Regiment died of pneumonia in Belgium during the severe winter of 1918 during World War I.
Another was a baboon named Jackie. He was the official mascot of the 3rd Transvaal Regiment and went everywhere with the soldiers who served in the trenches in France during the First World War. He was given a uniform, complete with buttons and regimental badges, a cap, a pay book, and his own set of rations. During his time in the military, he achieved the rank of corporal the only baboon to do so in history!, received an award for bravery after he was wounded by enemy fire, and ended his days outside Pretoria back on the family farm of his owner Albert Marr, in 1921.
