Military Mascots
Many animals who were with troops in World War served as official military mascots. They would represent their troop and boost morale. Military mascots ranged from dogs to lion cubs to skunks. Some, such as dogs, were purposefully brought along, while others, such as a seal pup found near an amphibious training base in Virginia, became accidental fan favorites.
The seal pup being bottle fed by Sgt. 1st Class Antonio G. Nicosia
These companions were often awarded the rank of private and often given pet names such as “Curly,” the name affectionately bestowed upon the dog who became the mascot of a British troop.
Curly poses with his British unit while accompanying them on a demonstration tour
Cats were also a popular choice of mascot, and since they were so common, many troops were proudly represented by cats or kittens. Another additional benefit of a cat mascot is their welcome tendency to catch the pesky rats that annoyed soldiers. They were sometimes used to carry messages.
Talasea waking up and leaving her bed, a tin helmet
The type of mascot often differed depending on the location and culture of the troop. For example, almost every Australian troop had a kangaroo as their mascot.
Australian infantrymen with their mascot
Monkeys were one of the most popular choices as well. They would help their human companions look out for danger and were instrumental in boosting the morale of certain troops.
American soldiers with their mascot monkey, Mousie
Overall, these animal mascots gave hope to soldiers in a time that seemed hopeless. People often forget about or underestimate these animals and the impact they had on soldiers, but that does them an injustice. They provided comfort and happiness to the men fighting in a war that had most likely stolen away the friends they had fought beside. These men needed a mascot, someone to fight for and bond with, and these animals provided that for them.