Memorial to Animals in War
Created by artist Steven Holland, the Memorial's main feature is a large bronze horse head, an Australian War Memorial collection item, and the only remaining fragment from the original Desert Mounted Corps memorial, destroyed during the Suez Crisis of 1956.
The RSPCA's National President, Lynne Bradshaw, said the Memorial acknowledged the significant contribution animals have made during times of conflict.
"Pigeons carried urgent messages between the trenches and military headquarters; camels, donkeys and horses provided vital transport for people and equipment; dogs worked as messengers, trackers and guards; and cats patrolled navy ships for mice, rats and other pests.
"Animals not only served man but provided companionship and comfort and their very presence in the darkest of times was treasured by the people they stood beside.
"This memorial pays tribute to this relationship but also aims to educate the Australian community about the value of animal life. Their service was as perilous as it was varied and like the people they served, many thousands of animals never returned home."