FAMOUS MASCOT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 11, 2 October 1942, Page 2

FAMOUS MASCOT

VICISSITUDES OF A DOG

'•MAJOR" SEES SERVICE

"Major," veteran mascot of a Wellington Battalion and Number One Dog of the '2nd. N.Z.E.F. has been wounded in action. , Onco again he accompanied his battalion to the Western Desert and in recent operations suffered two llesh wounds in the thigh from machine gun fire. With hardly a whimper, the large bull-terrier, which left New Zealand with the first contingent of the 2nd. N.Z.E.F., co-opcratively submitted to the application of a first field dressing. He was carefully laid on a stretcher and round his doggy neck was tied the orthodox in for-

mation card used lor all woundec soldiers. Before long he was on hi: way to a dressing station where hi; wounds were given more thorougl attention. Characteristically, In showed, his appreciation of everything that was done for him. J-Ic .seemed to know .that he was placed beneath a mosquito net for the purpose of sheltering him from the Hies. At meal times lie would crawl cut from beneath its draping folds, lap up his bully and water with the best of them and then automatically nose back under his netting to remain there till mess call came round again. '"Major" travelled back to base in a senior medical officer's staff car. He went willingly and appreciatively. On his arrival at base lie was taken to his battalion's L.0.8. camp, where he was given a royal welcome.

Brought overseas by the late Major E. YY. Williams, "Major' l ' commenced his N.Z. military career in when he was; taken by him from Duntroon Military College, in Australia, to a military camp in New Zealand. Enlisting in September 1939, lie accompanied a draft of the first contingent in its march through the streets of Wellington, pi ior to cinbarkation. Since -then his army career lias been eventful and varied and his promotion has been consistent and deserved. On Id's collar he bears the three stars of capLaincy, one for every year of active, service. Some time ago he lamentably fell from grace—one of his very few lapses—when he was remiss enough to bite the leg of. an allied soldier. He subsequently appeared before a court martial and as a result found himself considerably reduced on the gradation list. However, in the light of his recent misfortune, such a delinquency has now been more than forgotten.