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The Scottish memorials to a 'soldier bear' from World War II that 'retired' to Edinburgh Zoo

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dailyrecord.co.uk

A small town in the Scottish Borders is home to one of two statues in the country commemorating a Syrian brown bear who served in World War II.It may sound like something out of a movie, but Wojtek was very much a real animal in the Polish Land Forces.

In fact, he was even promoted to the rank of corporal for his services.Wojtek — also spelled Voytek — started life in the care of a young Iranian boy after its mother was killed by hunters.

In 1942, at a railroad station in Iran, the bear came into the care of Polish soldiers, with Lieutenant Anatol Tarnowieckikept deciding to keep and raise the animal.While at first, Wojtek was not healthy and needed to be fed condensed milk from a bottle, over time he became not just a mascot but a full-on member of the unit.

The bear would often play-wrestle with troops, and would even be given beer to drink and cigarettes. Stone pyramid in Scotland erected by Queen Victoria captured in 'gorgeous' pictures When the unit was sent to Italy in 1943 to assist Allied troops, Wojtek joined them.

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