When a contingent of Polish soldiers were travelling through Iran on their way to a posting in the Middle East, they adopted an orphaned Syrian brown bear whose mother had been shot by hunters.
The bear, named Wojtek, became the regiment mascot of the 22nd Transport Artillery Supply Company, Polish II Corps during World War II.
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Despite growing to 6ft and reaching a weight of about 18 stone (113kg), Wojtek remained playful and friendly, and was beloved by the unit’s soldiers, with whom he allegedly drank beer and shared cigarettes.
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When the company was posted to Italy in 1943, Wojtek had to be officially enlisted in order to accompany them, and he was given a service number, a paybook and assigned the rank of Private.
During fierce fighting during the Battle of Monte Cassino, Wojtek assisted his comrades by carrying heavy shells and boxes of ammunition, a scene later incorporated into the company’s insignia, and he was subsequently promoted to the rank of Corporal.
After the armistice the unit travelled to Scotland, and Wojtek ended up spending the rest of his days in Edinburgh Zoo, where he passed away in 1963.
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Photographs courtesy of Imperial War Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
