UNDER FIRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24783, 6 December 1941, Page 2

UNDER FIRE

EGYPTIAN-BORN DOG WELLINGTON UNIT'S MASCOT (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service.) . CAIRO, Nov. 1.

Dogs with active service records in the 2nd New Zealand ExpeditionaryForce, although by rio means commonplace, are not altogether unusual. Several units are proud owners of dogs which have shared the exploits of their soldier friends in the desert, in Greece, and. even in the battle for Crete. Recent publicity given to the honourable record of a bull terrier named Major, whose military history dated back to pre-war days in the New Zealand permanent staffj and which, as mascot of a Wellington battalion now occupied the unchallenged position of No. 1 dog, 2nd N.Z.E.F., brought forth the diversified story of an Egyptian-born dog with sufficient experience both under Are and in training to warrant its being ranked second in the force's canine gradation list. An article by "F.J.8." i n the N.Z.E.F. Times unfolds, in the following words, an action-filled lifestory of which any mascot, quadruped or otherwise, might well be proud:*In the early days of 1940 there was found in Cairo a small pup about two weeks old. The findei-s - were twq members of an engineering unit of the First Contingent, 2nd N.Z.E.F., and when the find was duly reported back to the unit it was decided that the pup should become the company mascot. Steps were immediately taken to have the new addition placed on the ration strength and given a regimental number. Known to the troops as No. 3, he was later taken to-the medical officer and pased fit for military service with the unit. As one of the main.jobs of the unit was the making of army bridges, it was decided that he should be named Captain Box Girder, a somewhat pretentious title which was duly shortened by the troops to Boxer.

Service in the Desert A month later Boxer attended an advanced course of instruction at Mersa Matruh, his first trip into the Western Desert. Later he made further trips by troop train to that region and became well-known to the men'camped in the vicinity. : , In [September, 1940, "Boxer left with the company for : active service:'in 4he desert. After a- short period during which he: became accustomed to sundry bombings and the noise o$ enemy aircraft, he went with the company into advanced action stations during the British successes in Libya. Boxer always accompanied his owner on a truck, and after the assault upon Bardia he distinguished himself by travelling in the company of high Italian-' Army officers on their way back to the prison camps; The Italians made ouite a fuss of Boxer, and he later feutrned . the compliment by shaking hands with them as they wished him luck. Boxer later visited the towns of Bardia, Tobruk, Derna, and Barcc, where .he received further initiation into enemy bombings and machine gun attacks. After eight months of service Boxer returned to Cairo for a well-earned leave after completing his first campaign.

His next peregrination was in a sugar ba% on the deck of a cargo ship on its way to Greece. On arrival at the port of disembarkation he boldly marched down the gangway on to the wharf wearing a jacket decorated with Italian service awards. His appearance was greeted with enthusiastic acclaim by the Greek labourers on the docks. Lost for Three Days. After official leave in Athens, Boxer went with his unit to the vicinity of famous Olympus Pass and later visited Salonika several times with his masters. Following the heavy German raid upon the town of Larigsa he was lost for three days, but reported back for duty on the outskirts of trie town when he- was picked up by one of the company trucks. But Boxer's travels were not yet completed, for very shortly he found himself on the deck of one of his Majesty's ships on the way to Crete. Boxer again proved his mettle under fire by taking his share of the blitz and going hungry and thirsty with the rest.

On his return to Egypt he was given another rest, and is now in the desert again.