Wojtek the bear soldier [Not in painting] [Temporary Gallery]

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You are not going to find a bear in the painting but because we are talking about the Second World War there is a true and amazing story about the Syrian brown bear Wojtek (aka Voytek) who joined the army. Abandoned as a cub in Syria, a Polish regiment adopted the cub as they were passing through in 1942. The soldiers treated him as one of their own and Wojtek was a fan of drinking beer and eating cigarettes in between friendly wrestling bouts with the soldiers. Private Wojtek was officially employed by the King in the 22nd Artillery Supply Company of Polish II Corps of the British Army. He was given a food ration book and was paid in money. During the Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944 he carried heavy ammunition boxes to aid his soldiers. Wojtek translates to "he who enjoys war" or "joyful warrior". After the war Polish soldiers were allowed to resettle in Britain. Wojtek was shipped to Glasgow and transported to Winfield Camp near Berwick. After demobilisation the soldiers knew they could not take care of him so he was transferred to Edinburgh Zoo and received many visitors including old soldiers from the regiment . He died aged 21 in 1963 and a memorial can be seen in Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens. There are also four other different statues of him remembering where he came from and what he achieved in his life; London (formerly made for a hotel beside Edinburgh Zoo, Cassino, Italy where he helped his regiment during the battle, Duns (close to the barracks he was in after the war) and Krakow in Poland. ⁠The Polish Scottish Heritage website has the full story and photos of Wojtek. ⁠ ⁠