Fusiliers' Museum,
Lancashire
History : Time Line : 'Minnie.'
History of 'Minnie' - the mascot of the first battalion 20th The Lancashire Fusiliers.
During operations in Burma in 1944 the 1st Battalion 20th The Lancashire Fusiliers were in the 77th Infantry Brigade, which formed part of the Special Force commanded by General Wingate. This force was specially organized and trained for operations behind the Japanese lines, and men and animals had been specially selected.
In March, the 77th Brigade, together with all its men, animal transport and equipment, was flown into Burma and operated behind the Japanese lines. The Brigade established a “block”, called White City, across the Japanese road and rail communications to Mytchina.
Six days after the White City block had been established a pack pony in the Brigade transport platoon unexpectedly gave birth to a foal. There was no record of the pony having been served entered on the veterinary history sheet, so the arrival of the foal was a complete surprise. The foal was born during a determined Japanese attack and mortar bombs exploded all round Serjt Lee of the 1st Battalion XX The Lancashire Fusiliers, and his staff as they worked to bring new “life” into the “block”.
Immediately
the troops heard of the new member of the Brigade the foal became the topic
of the day. Something apart from death and destruction had arrived. During
the quieter periods in the fighting, men would stroll down to the transport
lines to see Minnie, so named because she was born near the mortar post
called Minnie. British and Gurkha troops, united in battle, were all interested
in Minnie’s progress. During a heavy bombardment of our positions
by the Japanese, bombs fell in the transport lines and killed several mules.
One mule broke loose and, acting as only mules can, kicked Minnie above
the right eye. It seemed that Minnie might lose the sight of one eye, but
Serjt. Lee worked ceaselessly, with improvised veterinary kit to save her
eye. Brigadier Calvert, “Mad Mike” as our Brigadier was affectionately
nicknamed, ordered periodic reports on Minnie’s progress to be sent
to all forward positions. As Minnie’s condition improved so did the
morale of the troops defending the “block”. When she was better
she was often seen walking off to the mortar positions, where she would
drink tea out of a pint pot.
The advent of Minnie had definitely helped morale, and stories of Minnie’s pranks and antics, however trivial, brought happiness in the Brigade.
When orders were received to evacuate the “block” the problem of what to do with Minnie who was still too young and weak to march far, came up. The Brigadier, appreciating the part Minnie had played in building up the troops’ morale, decided to have her flown back to India. An attempt to clear the airstrip was ordered and was successful. An aircraft was able to land and every man “stood to”. There were tense faces as Minnie was placed in the aircraft and there was a sigh of genuine relief as the plane took off.
It was sad to see Minnie go, but the troops had been told that she would be well looked after by the rear party which had been left behind in India.
On 1 August, 1944, the anniversary of the Battle of Minden the Battalion returned to Dehra Dun, in India, for rest and re-organization. Minnie was there to greet the Battalion, and, although she actually belonged to the Brigade, she made her home with the Lancashire Fusiliers. She soon began to control the Battalion. She used to enter the Sergeants’ Mess and eat anything she fancied, including table cloths. Once, during the Adjutant’s drill parade, Minnie decided to join Serjt Lee on parade, and it was amusing to see Minnie prodding Serjt Lee in the back. The Adjutant eventually decided to dismiss the parade, so again Minnie’s reputation soared. She was the only animal that could get the Battalion off a drill parade thirty-five minutes before time.
When the Brigade disbanded Minnie was allowed to remain with the Lancashire Fusiliers and the Commanding Officer promised that she would always be well cared for.
In October, 1947, when the Battalion left India permission was obtained for Minnie to be brought to England, and she travelled on the aft deck of the troopship Georgie, where she was a constant source of interest to a large and admiring audience. She soon got her sea legs; her appetite never suffered and she would frequently be seen eating anything from Spam to condensed milk which was offered her by the troops.
On arrival in England the Battalion was first stationed at Wem in Shropshire and it was decided in future Minnie should take part in all Battalion ceremonial parades and other appropriate ceremonies. Minnie was therefore prepared and trained to take her place on parade. A ceremonial bridle and shabrack were purchased for her and her positions on parade were fixed.
Her first official duty was in April when she accompanied the detachment of the Battalion to Bury on Gallipoli Sunday and took part in the parade after the service in Bury Parish Church.
Soon after this, when the Battalion took over the duties of Demonstration Battalion at the School of Infantry, Minnie moved with the Battalion to Warminster. Here she paraded on all ceremonial parades and all guards of honour furnished by the Battalion during the two years they remained there. The most important of these were Trooping the Colour on Minden Day 1948, the amalgamation parade of the First and Second Battalions on Minden Day 1949, and the farewell church parade in Heytesbury, just before the Battalion left for overseas service in the Middle East.
The guards of honour for senior officers of all Services and foreign visitors in Warminster were numerous. The two most important personalities for whom guards of honour were provided were the CIGS, Field Marshal Sir William Slim, and His late Majesty King Abdullah of Transjordan.
The pony masters during this period were first, Fusilier Priest and later Fusilier Dwyer. Before leaving for the Middle East the Battalion paraded in Bury with bayonets fixed and colours flying, a privilege granted to them when given the Freedom of the town. Minnie paraded with the Battalion on this occasion. She was not able to travel with the Battalion in HMT Empire Fowey, owing to the limited deck space on this ship, so she travelled a few weeks later in her special box on HMT ? with Fus Dwyer.
On arrival in Fayid Minnie was stabled with the horses of the Army Saddle Club. She started her duties with the Battalion soon after her arrival by taking part in the ceremonial guard mounting parades when the Battalion found the guards on the C-in-C’s residence. She next paraded with the Battalion on the King’s Birthday Parade in June and during June and July she paraded almost daily in practices for trooping the Colour. On Minden Day she took part in Trooping the Colour when the C-in-C, General Sir Brian Robertson took the salute.
When the Battalion moved to Aqaba in Transjordan in January, 1951, Minnie travelled by LST from Suez. At Aqaba she was stabled on her own and grain and forage were obtained from the Arab Legion.
In March, 1951 she again paraded with a special guard of honour for the late HM King Abdullah when he visited the Battalion. In April she took part in the combined ceremonial parade of the Battalion and HMS Euryalus when the ship visited Aqaba to hold a reunion with the Battalion in commemoration of the Lancashire Landing at Gallipoli.
In June, when the Battalion moved by air to Moascar in Egypt, Minnie again travelled by LST. She was stabled in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps lines which were alongside the Battalion’s barracks. She attended all church parades and again took part in the ceremony of Trooping the Colours on Minden Day.
Minnie had always been in the best of condition and L/Cpl Dwyer, who had been her pony master for the last two years, invariably turned her out in an exemplary manner for all her parades. In Ismailia Minnie caught pneumonia and was very seriously ill. However she was in good hands and seemed to make good progress. But she suddenly had a relapse and died on 8 November 1951. This was a very sad loss since Minnie was an established member of the Battalion in whom all ranks took a great interest and for whom everyone had great pride. She invariably caused great interest wherever she went and not only did she do much to maintain morale in the Battalion in her early days, she also played her part in maintaining the good name of the Regiment.
On all ceremonial occasions Minnie wore her shabrack, of rose colour with gold edge and with a red rose and gold 20th in the rear corner. In column of route, Minnie marched in rear of the band and in front of the CO’s escort. When the Battalion was in line she paraded on the left flank of the Battalion and marching past in column she marched between numbers Two and Three Companies (or guards).
