Meet Corporal Wojtek of the 3522 Polish 22nd Field Artillery Supply Company II Polish Corps, and yes, he is a bear and an official NCO. Before becoming a corporal, Wojtek, a Syrian Brown Bear, was adopted by his polish comrades while in Iran in the Spring of 1942. Originally a mascot, he soon learned to salute, march on his hind legs and carry supplies. He also enjoyed wrestling with the men as well as relaxing with the soldiers even to the point of leaning to smoke/eat cigarettes and drink beer.
When his unit was ordered to Italy in early 1942, the only way to bring the now fully grown Wojtek with them was to enlist his as a private, with his own official identity number and pay book. At the Battle of Monte Cassino, he quickly learned to carry artillery ammunition cases to resupply the 25 pounder artillery pieces in the rough mountainous terrain. Not only did this free up the usual four men who were normally required to hand portage the heavy crates, the sight of Wojtek doing his bit to help his comrades greatly raised their spirits. For his tireless efforts, the brave Wojtek was promoted to corporal. After the war, Corporal Wojtek retired to the Edinburgh Zoo where his exiled former comrades would continue to visit him and bring gifts of beer and cigarettes until his death in 1963.
is a Metal Piece I painted this month
