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WW1 mascots: a kangaroo and soldier
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WW1 mascots: a kangaroo and soldier
WW1 mascots: a kangaroo and soldier
1916
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 14387709
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In the heart of the chaos and carnage of the First World War, moments of levity and companionship were cherished by soldiers in the trenches. Among these unlikely sources of comfort were the mascots that followed their regiments into battle. This evocative photograph, taken in 1916, captures the bond between a soldier and his regimental mascot, a kangaroo named "Bouncer." The Australian 2nd Light Horse Regiment, known for their distinctive mounted charges, adopted Bouncer from the Sydney Zoo in 1915. The kangaroo, who had been orphaned as a joey, quickly became a beloved symbol of the regiment's Australian heritage. Bouncer accompanied the soldiers on their journey to the Middle East, providing a sense of home and morale amidst the harsh realities of war. In this image, the soldier, with a gentle hand, tenderly touches the kangaroo's pouch, as if to check on the welfare of the tiny joey inside. The kangaroo, in turn, gazes up at the soldier with curious interest. The scene is a poignant reminder of the human-animal connection that transcended the horrors of the battlefield. Bouncer became a symbol of hope and resilience for the soldiers of the 2nd Light Horse Regiment. He survived the war, and after the conflict's end, was returned to the Sydney Zoo. This photograph stands as a testament to the enduring bond between man and animal, even in the most trying of circumstances.
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