Bearing Arms
A campaign has been launched to build a permanent memorial to a bear which spent much of its life in Scotland after fighting in World War II. The bear was adopted by a Polish Military unit which found him wandering in the hills of Iran in 1943. As he grew he became an important part of the unit. Known as Voytec- the soldier bear- he was trained to carry heavy mortar rounds. “He liked a cigarette, he liked a bottle of beer - he drank a bottle of beer like any man,” said Augustyn Karolewski. “He was even given a name, rank and number."When the troops were demobilized, Voytek spent his last days at Edinburgh Zoo where he died in 1963. Mr Karolewski went back to see him on a couple of occasions and found he still responded to the Polish language.
“I went to Edinburgh Zoo once or twice when Voytek was there,” he said."And as soon as I mentioned his name he would sit on his backside and shake his head wanting a cigarette."It wasn’t easy to throw a cigarette to him- all the attempts I made until he eventually got one.”. Eyemouth High School teacher Garry Paulin is now writing a new book, telling the bear’s remarkable story. I am not making this up:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/south_of_scotland/7208505.stm
BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | South of Scotland | Honour sought for ‘Soldier Bear’
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