Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

World War 1, Europe, Western Front, Messenger Dogs, 1917

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Subcollections

Communications Gallery - Centenary of Royal Australian Corps of Signals

Overview

Photographs of Australian messenger dogs during World War 1.

Historical information

Carrying messages was an important part of communicating during World War 1. Standard field communication by telephony or wireless could be slow, unreliable and subject to disruption It was often too dangerous for people to pass messages along the battlefield due to their size and relatively slow movement. Dogs provided a practical alternative. Trained dogs could traverse many terrains not only with ease, but also with speed. They were also much harder targets to see and hit. Dogs were also very dependable and reliable, if they were throughly trained to task.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-54-729

Inscriptions and markings

In circumstances where the message was important and telephone links or wireless failed a dog could be utilised. A message was secured in a canister attached to the dog’s collar. The dogs were trained to operate in the noise and chaos of battle. They could move quickly around shell holes and through trenches.

Contextual Information

"Comms Chat" is a changing, low tech, analogue, non AI generated, printed ink exhibit adjacent to and supporting the Communications Gallery at the Australian Army Museum of Western Australia. It contains personal stories, technology insights and anything remotely connected to the theme of Communication. This sub collection contains elements which have previously appeared within Comms Chat

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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