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Canadians in camp at Salisbury Plain with bear mascot

Canadians in camp at Salisbury Plain with bear mascot


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Canadians in camp at Salisbury Plain with bear mascot

Canadian troops in camp at Salisbury Plain posing with their regimental pet, a black bear. There is no hard fast evidence to suggest so in the caption but it is possible that this is Winnie, the bear smuggled to Britain by Lt. Harry Colebourn of The Fort Garry Horse, a Canadian cavalry regiment en route to the Western Front. The bear was left at London Zoo where she became very popular with visitors, including Christopher Robin Milne, son of A. A. Milne, who would go on to write his Winnie-the-Pooh stories based on the animal. Date: 1914

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Media ID 14206076

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Bear Bears Canadians Mascot Mascots Plain Pooh Regimental Salisbury Winnie


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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the spirit of camaraderie and lightheartedness amidst the harsh realities of the First World War. Taken in 1914 on Salisbury Plain in England, it shows a group of Canadian soldiers from The Fort Garry Horse regiment, a cavalry unit en route to the Western Front. Among them is their regimental mascot, a black bear, who adds a touch of whimsy and home to the scene. Although there is no definitive proof that this bear is Winnie, the famous black bear who would later become the inspiration for A.A. Milne's beloved Winnie-the-Pooh character, it is a tantalizing possibility. Winnie was smuggled to London Zoo by Lt. Harry Colebourn of The Fort Garry Horse in 1914. The bear was named after Winnipeg, the Canadian city where Colebourn's regiment was based. The soldiers in the photograph appear to be in high spirits as they pose with their furry companion, a stark contrast to the grim reality of the war that lay ahead. Winnie, who would go on to become a beloved attraction at London Zoo, brought joy to countless visitors, including Christopher Robin Milne, the son of A.A. Milne. Milne's stories, inspired by Winnie, would captivate generations of readers and become a cherished part of children's literature. This photograph offers a rare glimpse into the lives of Canadian soldiers during the First World War and the unexpected ways in which animals, like Winnie, could bring comfort and connection to those far from home.

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