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The First World War, otherwise known as the Great War, saw an extensive usage of canine animals, to an extent and for purposes which had neever before been seen in history. Although the existence of dogs and cats of campaign had long been a feature of warfare, the military use of these animals was limited, and they were mostly the pets of the enlisted men and officers who were on said campaign. On rarer occasions, they could be the pets and de facto mascots of entire military units. Nonetheless, the purpose they served was primarily one of entertainment and uplifting morale, with military uses usually not going beyond those of assisting hunting parties (especially when an army was cut off from its supplies or in African colonial conflicts, where uncultivated land was enormous and large settlements were scarce or for cats - hunting rats in camp.
This all changed during the Great War, as men found newer ways of killing each other. As gas attacks on both fronts (but primarily the Western Front) became ever more common, dogs took on the role of spotters and savers of lives, for although chlorine gas and tear gas could be spotted by a human even miles into the distance, things like mustard gas or phosgene gas were often not detected by the men before it was too late. The sensitive noses of dogs allowed them to sense and detect poison gas a few minutes before the gas swept over the trenches, giving the men inside precious time to don gas masks and wait out the gas attack.
Another spotting role that dogs took on was that of a sentry to detect enemy presence. The excellent night vision, motion detection, and peripheral vision of dogs allowed them, with some training, to be used as lookouts for enemy forces. The bark of the dog would alert nearby sentries to a possible enemy presence, who would then, if they confirm said enemy presence or if the enemy troops make themselves known, alert the officers and NCOs of their units allowing for a defense to be mustered.
Apart from spotting, dogs also took on the role of messengers. To make up for the lack of communication technology at the time (telephones were primitive, and phonelines were easily cut), as well as the extensive presence of snipers, which put human messengers at risk (although men who were quick on their feet were nonetheless used very extensively as runners to deliver messages. Runners were in fact one of the most in demand jobs in the British Army during the war), dogs were used to transport orders and messages written on paper and usually hidden on them. To a sniper, the dog would look like a simple stray (of which there were many on the frontlines) or the sniper would think that its the pet of a unit or an officer - a target that, if shot, will not bring military gain and is not worth exposing his position for, especially in daylight.
Lastly, dogs were used by the medical corps' of all sides on the Great War. Their sensitive noses and good hearing allowed them to effectively detect wounded men buried under dirt and mud or rubble - men who would not have been found without the dog's help. The wounded men, when found by the dogs, could then be dug up by the stretcher bearers and delivered to an aid station. No doubt the efforts of the brave canines that served within the medical branches of the warring powers helped save countless lives. Men who would have otherwise starved or suffocated to death were given another chance at life due to the efforts of a four-legged animal.
In conclusion, dogs played a vital role during the Great War. They served as sentries, spotters for gas attacks, messengers, and medical personnel. The efforts of those who served within the militaries of the countries at war helped to save many thousands of lives, helped to prevent many families back home from losing their fathers, brothers, husbands, and sons. Without the efforts of brave canines, some of whom were even awarded military decorations, the Great War would have been even deadlier than it already was.
This all changed during the Great War, as men found newer ways of killing each other. As gas attacks on both fronts (but primarily the Western Front) became ever more common, dogs took on the role of spotters and savers of lives, for although chlorine gas and tear gas could be spotted by a human even miles into the distance, things like mustard gas or phosgene gas were often not detected by the men before it was too late. The sensitive noses of dogs allowed them to sense and detect poison gas a few minutes before the gas swept over the trenches, giving the men inside precious time to don gas masks and wait out the gas attack.
Another spotting role that dogs took on was that of a sentry to detect enemy presence. The excellent night vision, motion detection, and peripheral vision of dogs allowed them, with some training, to be used as lookouts for enemy forces. The bark of the dog would alert nearby sentries to a possible enemy presence, who would then, if they confirm said enemy presence or if the enemy troops make themselves known, alert the officers and NCOs of their units allowing for a defense to be mustered.
Apart from spotting, dogs also took on the role of messengers. To make up for the lack of communication technology at the time (telephones were primitive, and phonelines were easily cut), as well as the extensive presence of snipers, which put human messengers at risk (although men who were quick on their feet were nonetheless used very extensively as runners to deliver messages. Runners were in fact one of the most in demand jobs in the British Army during the war), dogs were used to transport orders and messages written on paper and usually hidden on them. To a sniper, the dog would look like a simple stray (of which there were many on the frontlines) or the sniper would think that its the pet of a unit or an officer - a target that, if shot, will not bring military gain and is not worth exposing his position for, especially in daylight.
Lastly, dogs were used by the medical corps' of all sides on the Great War. Their sensitive noses and good hearing allowed them to effectively detect wounded men buried under dirt and mud or rubble - men who would not have been found without the dog's help. The wounded men, when found by the dogs, could then be dug up by the stretcher bearers and delivered to an aid station. No doubt the efforts of the brave canines that served within the medical branches of the warring powers helped save countless lives. Men who would have otherwise starved or suffocated to death were given another chance at life due to the efforts of a four-legged animal.
In conclusion, dogs played a vital role during the Great War. They served as sentries, spotters for gas attacks, messengers, and medical personnel. The efforts of those who served within the militaries of the countries at war helped to save many thousands of lives, helped to prevent many families back home from losing their fathers, brothers, husbands, and sons. Without the efforts of brave canines, some of whom were even awarded military decorations, the Great War would have been even deadlier than it already was.
