Wojtek

I went into the centre of Duns before starting my journey home and did a double take when I saw this statue as there is a statue of this same bear (although in a very different pose) in Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh. I've photographed it but not blipped it.  

Wojtek was a Syrian brown bear who was rescued as a cub by Polish soldiers who were fighting alongside Allied Forces in Iran during the Second World War. In order to provide him with rations and transportation, he was enlisted as a soldier, initially as a private and later he was promoted to corporal. At the Battle of Monte Cassino he helped move crates of ammunition and became a celebrity with visiting Allied generals and statesmen. 

After the end of World War II in 1945, Wojtek was transported to Berwickshire, with the rest of the 22nd Company. They were stationed at Winfield Airfield on Sunwick Farm, near the village of Hutton, in the Borders. 

Following demobilisation on 15 November 1947, Wojtek was given to Edinburgh Zoo, where he spent the rest of his life. That must have been a bit of a come down after seeing active service. He died in 1963 at the age of 21. There are many memorials to him in the UK, Poland and Italy. The statue in Duns was donated by its twin town in Poland, Zagan, and was unveiled on 26 April 2016, 72 years after the Battle of Monte Cassino.

There’s more about him on Wikipedia.

I drove home through the Lammermuir Hills which is a very scenic route with some excellent views. It’s quite remote, some stretches of road being single track and unfenced so you have to watch out for sheep on the road. I got a good welcome from Alfie and Lexi and had some quality time with them on my bed.