BENITO THE DOG

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 84, 23 June 1944, Page 5

BENITO THE DOG

MASCOT AND PICQUET COMPANIES CANINE QUADRUPED Following an article which appeared in the BEACON some time ago concerning a pet hen called Gertie, *the mascot of a unit of the A.S.C. overseas, we have been handed a letter by Mr Geo. L. Murray from his son, Gunner J. L. -Murray, wl\o is at present serving as a driver mechanic in the Middle East. The letter tells of a pup called "Benito" which attached itself to the unit at Castel Benito just outside Tripoli over a year ago, and which has, since that time, become part and parcel of the battery. "When Benito was first picked up, " states Gunner Murray, "he was a very small pup who had wandered too far away from his home and lost himself. One of the chaps took charge of. him, and he travelled with him all through the Tunisian campaign and then all the way back to Maadi. When Benito's master left to go back to New Zealand, I was asked to take care of him, and he has been my dog ever since. We smuggled him across to Italy,, and he always travels 011 my truck now. He is the pet and mascot of thu| whole battery and is well known throughout the regiment." Quoting from the letter. Gunner Murray states: "Benito is one of those "once seen never forgotten" types. He is a dark colour and is the most awkward looking animal I' have ever seen. Owing to some deformity his front legs are very bandy, and his feet just flop round all over the place. He is known as "Benito" or "Ben" for short and he knows his name and obeys me reasonably well considering the number of. masters he has. Benito is also a very good picquet. He can pick up an "Iti" or any strange uniform at a long distance and gives the visitor a very hot reception if he comes into our Battery area. He is particularly useful to us on the M.T. truck when we are on the move. As we always travel at the rear of the convoy to attend to any trucks that break down, we are often left far behind and sometimes have to pull off the. road and bed down for the night on our own. All I do is tie "Ben" up under the truck, and he gives us good warning if anyone approaches during the night. In this way, we don't have to worry about a picquet. ourselves. He is better off than any one. else in the battery; nothing to worry about, nothing to do except keep an eye on the area, and he gets the same tucker as us. When we move to a new place, he usually pays a few social calls on the local dogs." "However," the letter concludes, "although he has spent a considerable time travelling, Benito is definitely not fond of riding in a truck and invariably pulls a long face when he sees us packing up, as he knows there is another move ahead of him."