MONKEY GOES "OVER THE TOP"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 224, 16 June 1919, Page 5

MONKEY GOES "OVER THE TOP"

Though not included on the crew list Dick, the large monkey on hoard the wheat steamer War Trefoil, at present m Melbourne, is reputed to be not only a good snilorman, but also a soldier of widespread experience. He was presented to Captain T. W. Miller in Franco bv a number of Royal Irish Fusiliers who returned to their homes on the vessel. Dick served for three and a half years with the Eoyal Irish in the trenches. He can handle a gun and perform bayonet and signal exercises. The official salute is also included in his repertory. Though he went over the top with the regiment on many occasion?. Dick escaped serious injury, but was slightly wounded on several occasions. ~.riie,War Trefoil, on which the unique jolly" is now housed, has had an interesting war career. From 1914 to the end of hostilities the vessel was engaged in the war zon!>, and carried guns, munitions, and stores to Greece, Italy, and France for the different Allied arm. In June,- 1917, a U-boat which tried to sink her was sent to the bottom by tho vessel's 4.7 guu, and in December of the Game year the notorious U-boat Sparlel Jack was successfully evaded off Gibraltar. Arriving at a French port on March 20, 1918, at' the time of the "Big Push," the vessel was assailed from three different directions—l 3 German torpedo destroyers bombarded her from the sea, aeroplanes from the air, and the 15-incli shells of the German long-range guh fell on every side, but did not strike her. The escape of the vessel from the threefold attack is attributed by the crew to their mascot.