The dogs of mercy of the First World War: How four-legged orderlies heroically saved people

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

During World War I, the British Red Cross received tremendous help from a completely unexpected source. This may sound like a particularly contrived episode of a movie, however, it's all true. A dog carrying first aid items, oblivious to flying bombs and whistling bullets, is a reality. The true story of the brave four-legged orderlies who stopped at nothing to get to the wounded and save them, further in the review.

Since ancient times, dogs have accompanied people in war. They were scouts, messengers, trackers. But the most unique role they have ever played was that of "dogs of mercy" in World War I. They found wounded soldiers where the medics were powerless. The dogs not only carried first aid supplies, they also comforted the mortally wounded. Animals much better than any doctor could support hopeless fighters.

Medical dogs

Dogs of Mercy, also called medical dogs or dogs for the wounded, were first trained by the German army in the late 19th century. They were supposed to help military medics in finding wounded soldiers on the battlefield. Jean Bungartz, a German animal painter and author of numerous books on animals, was horrified by the staggering number of missing soldiers during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. He began to train dogs to help find wounded soldiers. To this end, in 1890 he founded the German Association for Medical Dogs, which took responsibility for the training of animals.

Also, a certain Major Edwin Richardson, a former soldier, was able to realize earlier than others that four-legged friends can be extremely useful in war. The retired military man spent many years developing and improving methods of training and special education. When World War I broke out, the British Army initially rejected his offer of help. But the Red Cross turned out to be more prudent and gratefully accepted several specially trained dogs for help.

As soon as the dogs began to show decent results, the army quickly realized its mistake. Richardson was even asked to create an official fighting dog training school. So the training of four-legged soldiers began.

Learning difficulties

Many people may wonder: how to teach a dog (usually a shy creature) to work calmly on a raging battlefield? The answer is simple: a lot of hard work. Richardson quickly realized that all animals must be trained in real combat conditions. A journalist who came to his school said: “Shells rattled and whistled overhead, army trucks scurried back and forth. Dogs are taught here to the constant noise of the battle, the sounds of shots, exploding shells. They very quickly learn not to pay any attention to them."

The major even paid unemployed locals to teach the dogs to track down unconscious wounded. They had to lie "wounded" in the woods for the trainees to practice finding them.

The level of difficulty in training the dogs was overwhelming. They were taught to completely ignore corpses. Animals could understand a huge number of signals with their hands. They meekly allowed to put on and wear a gas mask. The dogs were also taught to distinguish between British military uniforms and enemy uniforms. It was unacceptable to lead the rescue team to the wounded but still armed German soldier.

Of course, it was a very long, difficult and exhausting process. But it was worth it. Because after the dogs were fully trained, what they were able to do on the battlefield was incredible.

Nose downwind

During the First World War, the National Red Cross Societies began to train the dogs of mercy themselves. Usually the animals were equipped with a saddle bag filled with water, alcohol and first aid supplies. The dogs were trained to move silently around the neutral zone, usually at night, sniffing out wounded soldiers, ignoring those on the other side. The dogs were smart enough to recognize and distinguish between lightly injured and those who could no longer be helped. Their mission was to warn doctors in time that a person was lying on the battlefield awaiting help.

Dogs were usually sent out to search under cover of night. After slightly wounded fighters could heal their wounds, the dogs helped them get to theirs. If the soldier was unconscious or unable to move, the dog would run back, carrying a piece of clothing or a torn piece of uniform as evidence. Sometimes the dog dragged the soldiers to safety. Many animals remained with the dying fighter until the last, becoming the last comrade-comforter.

The dogs demonstrated a simply supernatural ability to find the wounded. They brought the medics straight to the place, in the pitch darkness, right under the enemy's noses. Each four-legged orderly knew how to freeze in place if enemy fire illuminated the surroundings.

According to military doctors, Red Cross dogs have saved many lives. They were especially useful when working with search teams in hostile territory. Their incredibly sensitive sense of smell made it possible to find the wounded in the thickets and bushes, which otherwise might not have been noticed. Dog noses have been extremely useful in other ways as well. One surgeon recalled: “Sometimes they lead us to the bodies of soldiers we thought were dead. When they were brought to the doctors, they were surprised to find a spark of life. How many people were able to pull out of the afterlife thanks to this! The canine instinct was far more effective than any human ability."

The courage of the brave

Not many people have come across Oliver Hyde's 1915 book The Work of the Red Cross Dog on the Battlefield. But in this long-forgotten book on the bravery of brave dogs, the author perfectly captures the meaning of the most unexpected group of heroes of the First World War.

“For a lonely and desperate wounded soldier, the appearance of the Red Cross dog is a messenger of hope. "Here's some help at last!" As part of the great Red Cross army of mercy, the animal orderlies were invaluable.”

During the war, about 10,000 dogs served as dogs of mercy on both sides. They owe the lives of thousands of soldiers. Some of the orderlies have drawn particular attention to their work. For example, Captain, who found 30 soldiers in one day, and Prusco, who found 100 people in just one battle. It is known that Prusco dragged soldiers into ditches for safety while he went to get a paramedic.

The First World War, like any war in general, was terrible. The cannons tore apart the ground, the rain turned everything into a swamp, the air was filled with poisonous gases. Many dogs of mercy were killed by bullets, shells, or were crippled. Those who survived suffered traumatic stress as a result of the service.

Dogs were also used during World War II. Modern wars are no longer fought in trenches. Now the skills of dogs that could navigate the scorched battlefield in search of the wounded are no longer relevant. But four-legged helpers continue to play an active role in all human wars. And they will continue to play as long as people and dogs remain friends.

If you love these loyal friends of a person, read our article. about why a child needs a dog.