Dogs of the First World War

To mark the 80th anniversary of the PDSA Dickin Medal, Emma Worrall will examine the role of dogs in the First World War.

In the summer of 1918, newspaper headlines across Britain appealed for ‘More War Dogs’. In response, owners volunteered their family pets, and the police and dogs’ homes sent strays.

But how did a dog become a ‘War Dog’?

In this intriguing talk, Emma Worrall will highlight the recruitment, logistics, veterinary care and employment of the British Army’s messenger dog service during the First World War, as well as the problems encountered when utilising a canine service.

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About Emma Worrall

Emma Worrall is Military Records and War Graves Researcher at the National Army Museum. She is also pursuing a PhD focusing on the British Messenger Dog Service in the First World War.

Emma holds an MA in British First World War Studies from the University of Birmingham. She has authored and co-edited three books on military and canine history, one of which received the Alan Ball Local History Award.