9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2001 - Page 0090
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 2001 |
| Transcription |
90 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) paperman approaching. He was tall and large, carried a long stick, and was swaggering around in a rather arrogant manner. I thought I would teach him a lesson. “See him off!” I called to Tomasz. Normally Tomasz would have rushed up to the man, barking. This time, however, it was different. Tomasz charged across the sand and jumped full tilt at the man’s chest. The Egyptian fell, dropped his stick and newspapers and ran for the exit. Tomasz gave chase, tore the man’s galibir from him so that he fled almost naked... I thought this was a huge joke... but there were repercussions.... The next day I received a message that the Commanding Officer wished to see me in his office. “I understand” said Colonel Tony Cooke “the reason we have not received any newspapers today is due to you”. I was, of course, unable to deny this. My punish- ment was, once again, to be confined to camp for a week. The next day newspaper delivery was restored. Presumably the delivery man had been assured of his future security! By December 1947 we were due to proceed to Port Said for embarkation to Liverpool. Should I find a new owner for Tomasz at El Qassassin? That month the main party of the Regiment travelled by train to Port Said. I decided to take Tomasz with me just in case I could arrange his passage. I was always hopeful that I could find someone to look after him if things didn’t work out. On reaching Port Said, and after ensuring my own soldiers were looked after, I went dockside to the Royal Naval Office with Tomasz. Could I take him with me on the troopship back to the UK? “Certainly not!” came the reply. “Well” I said dramatical- ly “I may have to shoot him!” The RN Officer said “So you’ll have to shoot him then”. At this point I heard a voice behind me. It was a Generalwith redbands on both his cap and his uni- form. “Young man” he said, “I have heard all that has been said. I too am a dog lover. You have a fine dog there and I’ll get him on to the ship for you! Have the 9th Lancers got a Regimental Mascot?” “No” I replied. “Go and ask your Commanding Officer for permission for your dog to be the Regimental Mascot for the journey home” the General boomed. This was a miracle. I could hardly believe what was happening. And then 7 even more good luck 7 I noticed Colonel Tony Cooke standing on the dockside only 100 yards away. I marched up, saluted him and requested his agreement. He quickly con- curred and I rushed back to the General who immediately took charge of Tomasz and went off to the ship. An hour or so later I boarded the boat and went straight to the Purser to discover where Tomasz was located. “At the back of the ship on the Main Deck”, he responded “and by the way I must have the Veterinary Clearance papers before we sail”. I replied “I have sent them on to Liverpool” and as nothing fur- ther was said, presumed this to be in order. The ship sailed on time. I visited Tomasz in the morning and in the evening too. He was shut in a kennel for the duration of the trip so I used to exercise him on his private deck and feed him the food provided each evening. After 11 days we arrived in Liverpool and Tomasz was placed in the standard type ofbox provided to transport dogs through cus- toms. I explained that Tomasz was the Regimental Mascot and that I had arranged for him to go into quarantine at Hackbridge Kennels in Surrey on our return. Customs approved this but asked to see the Veterinary Clearance papers. I told them I had sent them on ahead of us to Hackbridge Kennels. I left Tomasz to be put on the train to Hackbridge for his six months stay. The Regiment moved from Liverpool to Happenden, south east ofGlasgow, where we moved into a camp which had been used for prisoners-of-war. By the end of January 1948 I had received my demobilisation papers and returned to live at my family home in Middle Green, Buckinghamshire. I paid several visits to Tomasz at Hackbridge and, finally, after the six months were up, brought him back to our lovely home and garden: a fitting and beautiful place - or so I thought 7 in which he could end his days. However, this was not to be. After several weeks, Tomasz developed paralysis of his rear legs. The vet said this was a frequent occurrence with Alsatians. After three weeks of continuous deterioration, Tomasz was put down. I was away at the time in Paris. On my return to Middle Green in March 1949, I discovered my father had buried him in the wood at the end of our garden, placing a cross marked “TOMASZ IXL” on his grave. What a sad end this was to what had been an extremely adventurous life 7 for a dog! in the East today. How you can help the Brooke Hospital for Animals You can too easily find half crippled, malnourished working animals Every week we give free treatment to thousands of suffering horses and donkeys and save many more from years of cruel labour. For £25 we can provide up to 5 days of life saving hospital care. Just £2 will enable us to give an all important preventive treatment. We know how to get the best value from every penny. Please help. Send what you can by cheque or credit card to: Richard Searight, Brooke Hospital for Animals, Dept GHG36, Broadmead House, 21 Planton Street, London SW1 4BR or call us on 0207 930 0210 |
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