Veterans’ Week, November 5–11, 2013

ey everybody! “It is also estimated that eight million “That’s why animals and humans also H horses and mules were killed while looked to each other for comfort during Here we are in Ottawa at the new providing transportation to soldiers and war,” meowed Simone the cat. “My national memorial dedicated to animals equipment in the past century alone. relative served as a mascot on a warship that have served in war. The Animals in Horses served in the cavalry on the that was attacked. Even though he was War Dedication has footprints of dogs, battlefield, and they hauled supplies wounded, he cuddled with the sailors to horses and mules, to remind us of the through mud and up rocky hillsides help them get through that difficult mark they left on the battlefield. There while dodging bullets and explosions!” time.” are also three bronze plaques that have neighed Bonfire Jr. the horse. carved images and interesting facts “My relative was a loveable mascot for about the animals, their sacrifices, and “Elephants also carried men through some Canadian soldiers during the First their loyalty to their human friends. steamy jungles and over mountains, and World War. She was like their furry pal! A life-size bronze dog sits, wearing a they hauled ammunition,” trumpeted In the military, animal mascots still medical backpack that some war dogs Ellie the elephant. “The battlefields often serve as pets to the soldiers, and carried in the First World War. were terribly difficult places for animals, they provide fun and friendship,” said just as they were for humans.” Win the bear. “Did you know that dogs risked their lives in wars, carrying messages, “Yeah, pigeons flew through fog, Brave Canadian men and women would protecting humans, rescuing wounded, darkness and gunfire, even while have suffered even more in times of war being mascots and alerting humans of wounded, to deliver important messages had it not been for the special help of bombs? Dogs are still employed by the to help save their human friends in animals. With this new monument in Canadian Armed Forces today to find distress,” squawked Squeaker the Canada, the efforts and sacrifices of explosives, as well as in search and pigeon. these courageous animals are finally rescue operations because of their recognized. special senses of smell and hearing,” barked Gandy the dog. Try creating a special monument in your classroom!

Veterans Affairs Anciens Combattants Canada Canada veterans.gc.ca The Korean War was fought many years ago, from 1950 to The captain called for 1953. More than 26,000 brave Canadians served far from all hands on deck to home . . . and animals served alongside them, too. rescue the pup. In the end, someone was There was a bird named Joe the Crow who kept the sailors lowered down to pull herer company at a Royal Canadian Navy training base in Nova to safety. Imagine that, a Scotia during this time. There were other kinds of animals in sailor risked his life to the Navy during the Korean War, too. Alice the dog served save his canine friend. on the destroyer HMCS Cayuga. Given the rank of Animal mascots are no O.D. (Ordinary Dog), she had longer officially allowedon on her fair share of adventures, our navy’s ships, but the including once when she fell into tradition does continue in Alice wearing her new sweater the water between two big ships. another way. Today, Sonar,ar, a aboard HMCS Cayuga. There was no way Alice could Newfoundland dog, is the official mascot of Photo: climb out by herself and the sailors the Royal Canadian Navy. Bark on, Sonar! Crowsnest Magazine CA-448 were afraid she might be crushed.

Did You Know? Reading by the Bug Light! During the First World War, using bright lights at night on the front lines was very dangerous. To avoid being spotted by the enemy, some soldiers used glow-worms to read maps and important messages after dark! These insects naturally give off a very soft blue-green light. Hughes the Donkey Helps People might think that animals would not Hughes the donkey was bought there by be much help to soldiers in today’s Canadian Armed Forces engineers to help high-technology world, but sometimes the carry their equipment while on patrol. They old ways are still the best! often have to move big loads through harsh terrain, so the help of the small-but-mighty More than 40,000 Canadians have served in Hughes has been much appreciated. Plus just Afghanistan since 2001, working to bring seeing the cute little donkey put a smile on peace and help the people there recover after the soldiers’ faces. Life is dangerous for the years of troubles. It is a very hard place for men and women serving in Afghanistan and our soldiers to work. Much of the country is more than 155 of them have lost their lives very mountainous, sometimes making it over the years, but animals like Hughes have Hughes the donkey and Canadian soldier in Afghanistan in 2008.

challenging to transport things even with helped make their load just a little lighter. Photo: James McCarten - Canadian Press 4610561 V32-179/2-2013 Printed in Canada Catalogue No.: 2013. Affairs, Veterans represented by the Minister of nada, four-wheel-drive trucks!

One night in December 1941, while serving aboard Unfortunately, HMCS Charlottetown was HMCS Charlottetown off the coast of Newfoundland, attacked on September 11, 1942, by a U-boat Seaman John Garland went ashore. He came back later (a German submarine). Taking place in broad with a little dog tucked under his arm. Seaman Garland daylight, the attack horrified onlookers who nicknamed him Screech, after a local Newfoundland watched from the Quebec shore. The ship sank drink, and the pair became inseparable. within minutes. HMCS Charlottetown during the Second Seaman Garland worked quickly to World War. ensure that crew members had life Photo: jackets. After that, he went down below to Ken Macpherson/ rescue the lovable ship’s mascot. Screech was already in the water, however, Naval Museum of and needed no assistance to escape. Tragically, John Garland died in the Alberta (MC-2183) rescue attempt, along with nine other sailors who had been on board. Screech was presented to John Garland’s mother by surviving members of the crew a few weeks later. This publication is available upon request in other formats. Toll-free: 1-877-604-8469 © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ca Toll-free: This publication is available upon request in other formats. 2 veterans.gc.ca Elephants have helped armies since They pulled up trees that were sent ancient times because of their great to England where wood was size, strength and intelligence. During needed; moved heavy logs to build the Second World War, an elephant bridges; helped launch ships; and named Bandoola helped Lieutenant- carried people and supplies across Colonel Jim Williams in the jungles of rivers, mountains and rough roads. Burma. Elephant Bill, as he was They also tugged heavy army nicknamed, oversaw a British Army trucks out of deep mud during the elephant company, which had up to rainy season. 700 of these brave beasts. In 1944, Williams heard that the enemy was coming to take his last 47 elephants and they had to escape quickly. Bandoola paths through the mountains. Elephant during the courageously led the other The journey was long and hard, but First World War. elephants along dangerous together they reached safety. Photo: Illustrated War News, Did You Know? February 9, 1916 Tunneler’s Friends During the First World War, some soldiers spent a lot of time digging tunnels under the front lines for protection from the enemy and to use in attacks. Fresh air was hard to get underground and dangerous gases often built up that could be deadly. The tunnelers sometimes took doves and rats with them—if the animals couldn’t breathe, the men knew they had better get out quickly!

Painting of Seely and Warrior at the front lines in 1918. Source: AN19900084-001 Beaverbrook Collection of War Art ©Canadian War Museum

Major-General Jack Seely commanded the Canadian Cavalry in France during the First World War. He was well-liked, but not as popular as his brave, fast and tough horse named Warrior.

Warrior served on the front lines for four years, and he even led one of the last great cavalry charges in history with “Galloper Jack” Seely in his saddle.

Warrior’s loyalty to General Seely was so strong that he Galloper JackJk and dW Warrior hdhad severalveralll close calls ll followed him around like a faithful dog, but it was from bullets, shells, airplanes, mud and explosions, obvious that General Seely was just as attached to but somehow, when together, they always managed Warrior. Once when Seely had to ride another horse, to survive. It is no wonder that Warrior’sarrior’s obituary shellfire hit him and the animal was killed. The soldiers dubbed him the “horse the Germansns couldn’t began to think of Warrior as a lucky charm. kill” when he finally died years later.er.

Canadian Armed Forces members handing out Izzy Dolls in Africa in 2001. Photo: Department of National Defence Landmines are dangerous weapons that are his death, his parents, Carol andd ISD01-3125 buried underground and can explode if Brian, worked to continue his someone walks on them. De-mining dogs legacy. They madedee IzzyIzz Izzyy have a super sense of smell and they use this dolls for Canadianiann skill to help find mines. Canadian Armed Armed Forces Forces engineers then carefully dig them out members to helpp and take them apart so they cannot hurt them spread a littlettle anyone. comfort around tthehhe world. Master-Corporal Mark “Izzy” Isfeld of British Columbia worked clearing mines. He Recently, three was also known for putting smiles on de-mining dogs children’s faces in war-torn countries by have been namedd passing out little handmade dolls his mother Brian, Carol andd had made. Sadly, Mark was killed in a Izzy in honour off landmine explosion in Croatia in 1994. After the Isfeld family.y.

veterans.gc.ca 3 Sergeant Bill in uniform with soldier friend. Photo: Broadview Museum A goat named Bill was pulling a cart in a small many battles, includingg town in Saskatchewan when a train, carrying one where he pushed soldiers on their way to fight in the First World three soldiers into a War, stopped. The girl who owned Bill let the trench just seconds soldiers take him along as a good luck charm. before a shell exploded Mascots were not supposed to go to the front where they had been standing.anding.

lines, but the soldiers had become very attached Despite being wounded several times, Sergeant Bill survived to the goat so they hid him in a big crate and the war. Once the fighting was over, he was even part of a big took him with them. parade in Germany, proudly wearing a fancy blue coat with his Sergeant Bill, as the goat was called, was a big sergeant stripes. He then returned to his hometown where he help. He saw action beside his human friends in was reunited with his owner.

1 Crossword 2 Puzzle 3 Not all animals are helpful. During the First World War,ar, Did you read the more than 90% of the soldiersers newspaper stories 4 5 in the trenches had lice. carefully? All the 6 The pesky little insects answers to the made the men itch badly andnd crossword clues are they could spread a disease called trench fever. found in the newspaper. 7 Mice and rats were also a big problem in the 8 trenches and on warships, too. They chewed on supplies and equipment, ate the food, and 910 spread diseases. 11 Canadian soldiers who have served in far-off 12 lands, like Korea, Somalia and Afghanistan, had other pests to worry about, as well. They had to keep their eyes open for dangerous ACROSS DOWN spiders, scorpions and snakes that could sneak 2. Location of the new national Canadian 1. Home province of Sergeant Bill the goat. into their tents, sleeping bags and empty boots. memorial dedicated to animals that have 3. Type of passageway dug by soldiers during the served in war. First World War to go underground for 4. Mountainous country where Hughes the protection on the front lines. donkey has served. 5. Country where Major-General Jack Seely 8. Insect used during the First World War commanded the Canadian Cavalry during the to read important messages at night First World War. (two words). 6. Last name of the boy who designed the 9. Last name of the Canadian engineer who Forgotten Heroes animal memorial. gave away Izzy dolls. 7. Name of the dog that served on Canadian During the Korean War, soldiers used secret 11. Name of the elephant that helped Jim destroyer HMCS Cayuga during the codes to write important messages so the Williams in the jungles of Burma during Korean War. enemy couldn’t read them. Use the key the Second World War. 10. Little insects that could spread a disease called below to “crack” the secret code. 12. HMCS Charlottetown was trench fever during the First World War. attacked and sank off the coast of this province in September 1942. 25 13 24 15 23 14 22 1

Noah Tremblay and 6 21 25 21 7 24 15 18 Forgotten friends during dedication of new memorial. Photo: F U Veterans Affairs Canada T P Heroes A B 25 26 1 2 Young Noah Tremblay was the driving K 24 3 L force behind the creation of a monument 23 4 O Q dedicated to the animals that helped 22 5 people in times of war, conflict and peace. 2012 “in memory of all animals and E V 21 6 The idea originated from a heritage fair handlers who served in our military J 20 7 R school project he did. It quickly became and police forces.” The names of the the 12-year-old boy’s mission to raise animals and their handlers are also 19 8 Z G enough money to build a monument. inscribed on it. 18 9 S 17 10 W He collected donations and sold beeswax The Memorial to Forgotten Heroes is I 16 11 M lip balm and raffle tickets. He also designed located in Veterans Memorial Park in 15 14 13 12 the granite memorial, which was erected in Bass River, Nova Scotia. D C X N YH

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