The Bear Who Went To War

Cpl. Harry Colebourn enlisted in the Canadian Army Veterinary Corps to treat animals placed in service during WWI. He was stationed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but on the train going there, he looked out the window and saw a bear cub at the station in White River, Ontario. When the train stopped, he jumped off and asked the man holding her leash about the cub. He said the cub was for sale because he could not care for her. Harry bought the cub for twenty dollars and carried her on the train.

His Captain was concerned, but Harry assured him that he could care for the cub, and she could be the troop’s mascot. Harry named her ‘Winnipeg’ after their company base, but soon her name was shortened to ‘Winnie.’ Harry’s job was caring for the horses needed for the battles in the war and Winnie became his constant assistant. At night she slept under Harry’s cot.

As the war in Europe grew worse, the Canadian soldiers and horses were needed, so they boarded the ship for England and Winnie went too. Harry was seasick all the way, but not Winnie. In England, the soldiers, horses, and Winnie were stationed in a new camp, but when the soldiers and horses were transferred to France, Winnie could not go.

Harry contacted the London Zoo and they were happy to take Winnie because they had just opened a new facility for bears. It was a sad parting for Winnie and Harry, but Harry promised he would return and take her home to Winnipeg. Winnie became friends with the other bears and the children who came to the zoo loved her because she was unusually gentle for a bear.

Harry visited Winnie whenever he could but the war lasted four years. Before returning to Winnipeg in 1919, Harry made the difficult decision that Winnie should stay in the London Zoo; however, that is not the end of the story.

One day when Winnie was eleven years old, a little boy visited her. His name was Christopher Robin, and they became special friends. The boy’s father was a well-known author, and he wrote a story about his son and the bear. After that, the real ‘Winnie-the-Bear’ became famous to children all over the world as ‘Winnie-the-Pooh.’

The toll of war extends beyond human suffering to impact countless innocent animals. The devastating effects of warfare on animals often remain overshadowed by more immediate human concerns. There are numerous articles on the internet about the impact of war on animals and the environment. Domestic animals often become strays when homes are destroyed, or people flee their neighbourhoods.

In the wild, habitats are destroyed, food and shelter become scarce, and death or injury is a constant threat. Livestock on farms suffer without care if their owners are killed or displaced.

Many people are deeply distressed if they witness the suffering or death of their animals but evacuating animals, even domestic pets, adds problems that may require that animals be left behind.

There are various organizations dedicated to rescuing and caring for animals in conflict zones. These organizations often operate in dangerous conditions with limited resources for food, shelter, and medical care. The International Fund for Animal Welfare is one example of a global, non-profit organization working in more than forty countries.

‘Ecocide’ is a term used by the International Criminal Court to hold those responsible for wilful damage to the environment in conflict situations. Every day we witness the devastating effects of warfare on our televisions. We continue to pray for the cessation of hostilities in many parts of the globe.

The story of Winnie the Bear can be found in two charming picture books for children. Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh. Written by Sally M. Walker, Illustrated by Jonathan D. Voss. and Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear, written by Lindsay Mattick (Harry Colebourn’s great-granddaughter), and illustrated by Sophie Blackall. Both books have some reproductions of original photographs. There are numerous books of the stories of Winnie-the-Pooh.