REGIMENTAL PETS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16026, 18 September 1915, Page 5 (Supplement)

REGIMENTAL PETS.

Soldiers and sailors have always shown a great fondness for doge, and while it is impossible to let each man in either service have his own pet, no objection has, writes George Bigwood. in the Manchester Guardian, been raised to the adoption of a regimental pet since Queen Victoria recognised and decorated the famous dog i '• Bobbie" of the 66th Foot (2nd Battalion Berkshire Regiment) when, in 1881, that regiment returned from Afghanistan. Dogs | usually travel with the regiment to which i they belong. Bobbie" went through the Afghan campaign and was wounded, and when the regiment returned home Queen Victoria, satisfied that by honouring the dog she would also do honour to the regiment, decorated the dog with the Afghan medal at Osborne.

The 17th Lancers, the bluejackets of the Magnificent, and the Canadians, have shown a fondness for bears. " Lizzie," of the 17th Lancers, was a great favourite ■with that regiment. Her mother was shot in Cashmere by Prince Adolphne of Teck, who brought the cub to Lucknow, where the regiment was at that time stationed, and gave her as a present to the troops. Shortly afterwards the cub was lost for a year. One day a man visited the camj> with a performing bear, which was recognised as " Lizzie." Since that time the cub remained with the Lancers, with •whom she came to England in 1889. The bear of the Magnificent was first obtained when three months old, by Admiral Heneage when in Juno Island, Alaska. Any stray animals found in the fighting area are carefully tended by the soldiers. Here is a story of how the Camerons decided to adopt a regimental pet, told bv one of the men of that distinguished regiment: —"Soon after we landed in France a, pretty black-and-white dog attached himself to us, and has become the pet of the regiment. The men have decorated him with the Cameron colours. He carries his day's rations in an old bandolier wrapped .round his little body. His rations are biscuits. He generally marches with my company or No. 2, and insists on marching always with the advance guard. I hope we will be able to . bring him safe home with us. The men call him ' Jock.' *-