A new exhibition at the Imperial War Museum, London, which explores the role of animals in conflict opened on 14 July.

A spokesperson for the museum said that The Animal’s War uses photographs, film, sculptures, memorabilia and interactive features to examine the “intriguing and often surprising stories of animals in war”.

Animals such as dogs, cats, horses, elephants, dolphins and pigeons have been used by the armed forces and are all honoured in the exhibition.

Among the animals whose stories are included are Rob, the SAS dog who made over 20 parachute drops in WWII, and Winkie the pigeon, who saved the lives of a ditched aircrew by carrying a message revealing their location.

The Animals’ War will run until April 2007 and will transfer to Imperial War Museum North in Manchester by the summer of that year.

Photograph Copyright: REUTERS/US Navy/Brien Aho