Make Your Own Animal

Discover how animals like camels and horses helped soldiers from different Commonwealth countries such as Australia, Canada and India during the First World War.

Drop into an Open Studio craft session to make your own animal inspired by IWM's collections or join a storytelling session. Hear surprising and heart-warming tales of wartime animal bravery, like John Simpson's Donkey, who dutifully helped the Australian stretcher-bearer save wounded soldiers in 1915.

You can also meet puppet characters Abdul and Ali, brothers from India who bravely fight for Britain in the First World War. As one brother serves in the scorching heat of the desert, the other takes on the muddy surroundings of the trenches. Their paths lead them miles apart but exchanging letters keeps them close at heart.