Cat’s Significance During World Wars. Did you know that cat’s played a significant role during the World Wars? An estimated 500,000 cats served during World War 1. Cats, like dogs and horses, played an important role in boosting the morale of soldiers. As we all know the presence of a pet is very therapeutic. Having these fur balls around gave the soldiers another focus. They would provide a valuable service in controlling the rodent population on board navy ships. Cat’s also performed this rodent removal in the trenches. Consequently, keeping the rodents at bay helped prevent the spread of diseases amongst the troops, it also helped protect the food stores which were in high demand.
I read a documented story about a cat named Pitouchi. This cat’s parents had passed away leaving him as a tiny helpless kitten. A soldier took care of him and nursed him as he grew. That soldier was a belgian named Lieutenant Lekeux. As recounted in the book Soldiers in Fur and Feathers by Susan Bulanda, Pitouchi played a role in saving this soldiers life:
“As Lekeux reached a spot near the German lines, he saw that they were digging a new trench. He hid himself in a shell hole nearby to make a sketch of the German works. He was so absorbed in his sketch that he did not notice approaching German soldiers on patrol. When he finally realized his situation, it was too late to run. He decided to lie very still, hoping that the Germans would not see him, but unfortunately he heard one soldier say, “He’s in the hole,” so he knew he had been seen. When Pitouchi heard the German say that, he jumped out of the hole onto a piece of timber. The Germans were startled and fired two shots at Pitouchi. However, as frightened as he was, Pitouchi was not hit, and he jumped back into the hole with his beloved Lekeux. The Germans laughed and joked that they had mistaken a cat for a man and left. Lekeux finished his drawings and returned to the Belgian lines with Pitouchi on his shoulders.”
Resources:
It’s truly amazing to read these stories of how these animals and soldiers bonded during extraordinary times. I put together this great list of resources if you are looking for more information
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British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, making the acquaintance of Blackie, the bushy-tailed mascot of HMS Prince of Wales.
Remembrance Day’s importance is deep-rooted in me, not only am I ex-military, but my family has had a member serve in the Canadian military in every generation. During my time in the Canadian Reserves I had the honour of Standing Guard at a monument for Remembrance Day Ceremonies in Brockville. Observing this day is important. It’s important to reflect on past conflicts and current ones. The Royal Canadian Legion has a very informative webpage chalked full of great information about ways to observe this occasion and amazing educational resources.
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