Dear friend and subscriber,
I hope my newsletter finds you well on this beautiful Sunday!
As you settle into the Sunday evening, I’m excited to introduce a special edition of my newsletter that might tug at your heartstrings.
In the vast war history, tales of boldness aren’t reserved only for humans; many animals became legends on the war front. Here are some of their stories:
Cats – Mascots and Companions
Apart from their functional role in controlling pests, cats were emotional support for soldiers and sailors, providing comfort in tough times. They were regularly found in the trenches, where they would help control rat populations and serve as companions to the soldiers. Naval ships often had a cat or two onboard as mascots. They were believed to bring good luck, which is true – cats always get good luck! Unless they are called Unsinkable Sam.
This black and white cat originally served on the German battleship Bismarck. When the Bismarck was sunk in 1941 during World War II, Sam was found floating on a plank by British sailors and was the only survivor to be picked up by the destroyer HMS Cossack. Unfortunately, HMS Cossack was also torpedoed and sunk later that year. Once again, Sam survived. He was then transferred to the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, which was torpedoed and sunk. Sam survived again, and after three shipwrecks, he was retired from sea duty. He spent the rest of his days in Belfast in a sailor's home. Well, we can certainly say that Sam was a lucky cat, but did he really bring luck? I’m a bit doubtful about this.
The other well-known cat war hero is Crimean Tom. During the Crimean War in the 1850s, British and French troops besieging Sevastopol had difficulty finding fresh water and food supplies. A cat, later named Crimean Tom, was discovered by the troops and led them to hidden caches of supplies. He was considered a hero for his discovery. They should have given him a medal, but I heard nothing about it.
Dogs played numerous roles in wars
Like cats, they were mascots and companions but also guards, and messengers, served in searches and rescues and mine detection. They were useful therapy and emotional support. Of course, cats are equally efficient in helping with psychological issues.
Notable War Dogs:
Sgt. Stubby: Perhaps the most famous war dog from World War I. Sgt. Stubby was a stray dog who was adopted by a U.S. soldier and went on to serve in 17 battles. He could alert his unit to gas attacks, locate wounded soldiers, and even have captured a German spy. After the war, he met three U.S. presidents and became the mascot for Georgetown University.
Chips: During World War II, Chips, a German Shepherd-Collie-Siberian Husky mix, was the most decorated dog. He is known for an incident where he broke free from his handler and attacked an enemy machine gun nest, resulting in the surrender of its crew.
Rin Tin Tin: Originally rescued from a World War I battlefield by an American soldier, Rin Tin Tin went on to become a major Hollywood star in the 1920s.
Nemo A534: During the Vietnam War, Nemo was a sentry dog at the Tan Son Nhut Air Base. After his handler was injured in an attack, Nemo crawled on top of him, guarding and protecting him until help arrived, despite being injured himself.
Bamse: A Saint Bernard who became the mascot of the Free Norwegian Forces during World War II. He would break up fights among his crewmates and even once saved a young lieutenant commander from a man with a knife.
Judy: An English pointer who became a mascot on British naval ships during World War II. She helped soldiers locate water sources and even survived a shipwreck. Later, she was captured by the Japanese and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp, where she continued to boost morale.
Some other animals became famous during wars
Horses:
Sergeant Reckless: A Mongolian mare used by the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. She carried ammunition and evacuated wounded soldiers. Despite being injured twice, she made 51 solo trips during one battle. After the war, she was awarded two Purple Hearts.
Marengo: Napoleon Bonaparte's famous horse, which he rode in many battles. The horse was named after the Battle of Marengo.
Pigeons:
Cher Ami: During World War I, this homing pigeon delivered 12 important messages in Verdun, France. One of her most significant tasks involved carrying a message from the "Lost Battalion" of the 77th Infantry Division, saving nearly 200 men.
G.I. Joe: In World War II, this pigeon saved over 1,000 lives in Calvi Vecchia, Italy. He delivered a message in just 20 minutes that prevented a scheduled bombing.
Bears:
Sergeant Wojtek: An unusual but true story from World War II. Wojtek was a Syrian brown bear adopted by Polish soldiers. He helped move ammunition and became an official soldier of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company of Poland. After the war, he retired to the Edinburgh Zoo, where he spent the rest of his life. Journalists and former Polish soldiers often visited him; he still happily responded to being spoken to in Polish, recognising many of his former units. He was a frequent guest on BBC television’s programme for children.
Animals continue to play roles in modern warfare, although their involvement has shifted somewhat with the advancement of technology. However, their unique abilities and the bond they can form with humans still make them valuable assets, offering help and bringing comfort.
I hope you find today’s newsletter interesting, and I wish you a lovely evening!
Your loving writer,
Freddy
Very interesting and informative and I don’t know how many times I said aww when reading this 🤗 We should never take our furry or feathered friends for granted ❤️❤️
Thank you, Freddy. A very apposite subject at the moment.
There’s a lovely animation of Sgt. Stubby’s story, I think it’s on Amazon and Apple TV. And I didn’t know that Rin Tin Tin really was in the war, I thought it was all just imagination.