To commemorate Armistice this year, we have selected a collection of books, photographs and documents
from the RVC archives relating to animals, veterinary service, and the RVC during war. 
Please scroll down through this page to explore a little of our rich history.

This is a notice from the College marking the Armistice on 11th November 1918, announcing that classes on that day had been cancelled. It is signed by the Principal of the College, J. McFadyean and the Secretary, Thomas C. Wright.

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During WWII the RVC was evacuated to several sites. First and second year students were sent to the University of Reading, third years to Sonning-on-Thames, and fourth and final year students to Streatley-on-Thames. The photographs below show the main building of Streatley House; the Home Guard from Sonning; third year RVC students at Sonning in 1940; and the College rugby team from 1943-44. The man wearing a hat in the rugby photograph is Professor Wooldridge, who teams called 'Uncle George.'

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The horses below were all veterans of WWI. They were part of a campaign called the 'Nosebag Fund', which raised money for repairs to RVC buildings in the 1930s. Promotional cards were used with details of each horse's war record and where they were retired to. The example for 'Brutus' shows that he was at the Battle of Loos and the Somme. Click on a horse to see their war record card.

Angelina

Cinderella

Grey Button

Peg

Valkyrie

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Published by the UK government in 1939, this pamphlet in the series of Air Raid Precautions gives advice about animals. Here is the cover and the back page adverts - one for anti-gas protection for pets, and the other for emergency dog food supplies. The pamphlet is held in the library archive collection.

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The Army Veterinary Service was founded in 1796, and became known as the Royal Army Veterinary Corps in 1918. The library holds copies of the Journal of the Royal Veterinary Corps from 1929-1971.

The first photograph shows army farriers attending to a horse, and the illustrated postcard is of army veterinarians treating a group of wounded war horses.

The central photograph is of Major-General Sir Frederick Smith, who graduated from the RVC in 1876. He was Professor at the Army Veterinary School, and became Director General of the Army Veterinary Corps. On his death in 1929, he left his heart to the RVC. This is preserved and can be found in potted specimen 460 in the anatomy museum. He also wrote many books, including The Early History of Veterinary Literature and its British Development, copies of which are held in the library archive collection.