Kindly supplied by Aileen Orr, author of "Wojtek the Bear - Polish Hero"

Wojtek the hero bear

Few ‘bear tales’ could illustrate the special qualities of the bear better than the true story of Wojtek, (pronounced Voycheck) the happy warrior bear.

The story begins during the second world war when the 2nd Polish corps were stationed in Persia (Iran). Voytek was just a tiny bundle of fur who was swapped for a can of ‘bullied beef’ by a waif wandering in the hills of Iran.

Having lost his mother, he attached himself to the men, who fed him on condensed milk and gave him an old washing up bowl to sleep in.

Voytek soon took on many human characteristics, crying when left alone and covering his eyes with his paws if chastised.

He soon became a ‘squaddie’, enjoying the rough and tumble of living with his soldier friends. Even when he had grown to be six feet tall, he would wrestle and run with the troops – a much loved friend. It has been said that “Wojtek spread hope and fostered humanity among soldiers, who had lost most of what is supposed to make a war worth fighting and a life worth living.”

Then, the time came for the men to be shipped to Italy in preparation for the Battle of Montecasino. The soldiers couldn’t bear to be parted from their friend, but were not allowed to take an animal on the troopship. The solution they came up with was ingenious – he was recruited into the Polish army as Private Wojtek.

As the bitter battle for the monastery of Monte Cassino was fought, the bear travelled in the munitions trucks, his head hanging out of the window, ignoring almost constant shellfire.

Seeing the men carrying heavy munitions, Wojtek ‘volunteered’ to help, by standing on his hind legs and holding out his paws. Cradling 25lb shells or boxes of ammunition in his arms, he would effortlessly pass them down the line. Off-duty, he loved a bottle of beer, a cigarette and to wrestle with the men - in between raids on the cookhouse.

At the end of the war, the transport company was stationed in the village of Hutton, Berwickshire, where Voytek became a local legend.

Now a campaign is underway to build a permanent British memorial to the remarkable bear who fought so valiantly for the Allied forces and lived out his final days in Edinburgh Zoo.

A most wonderful book has just been published by Aileen Orr, whose farm became home to thousands of displaced polish soldiers – and their true friend Wojtek.

“Wojtek the bear – Polish war hero”. It is a very moving account of Wojtek’s life. Normally costing £9.99, it is available from Amazon for £6.99.

View Wojtek on video: