Bringing Winnie back to Tilshead
Donation protected
Almost everybody knows the story of the bear in London zoo which was the inspiration for the famous 'Winnie the Pooh' stories but does anyone know the story of the bear prior to it taking up residency at the zoo?
In 1914 when the Canadian army arrived to support Great Britain in her war with Germany, a young black female bear cub came too. She had been spotted sitting with an animal trapper on a railway station platform in Canada by a young army vet called Harry. Harry was on his way to France to look after the army horses. Seeing the young bear cub, he felt he could not leave her there to an uncertain fate, so he decided he would take her with him. He offered 20 dollars to the trapper for the cub and the trapper quickly agreed.
When the Canadians landed in England they headed by rail to Salisbury Plain where they were to do their battle training prior to going off to war in France. Westdown at Tilshead was the destination for the young bear cub and her owner.
To commemorate the final year of the centennial of World War One and acknowledge the service of the Canadian soldiers we would like erect a wall plaque on the wall of the Village Hall to mark the time when Winnie the black female Canadian bear lived for a short time at Westdown Camp South in 1914.
In addition to this 'Go Fund Me' appeal we are planning some fund raising events including but not limited to: quiz night, Teddy Bear picnic, Winnie Walk, sponsored marathon run, Saturday morning breakfasts, Easter event ....
The hope is to raise enough money for the plaque and have enough left over to purchase a book regarding the story of Winnie for every child in Tilshead village.
In 1914 when the Canadian army arrived to support Great Britain in her war with Germany, a young black female bear cub came too. She had been spotted sitting with an animal trapper on a railway station platform in Canada by a young army vet called Harry. Harry was on his way to France to look after the army horses. Seeing the young bear cub, he felt he could not leave her there to an uncertain fate, so he decided he would take her with him. He offered 20 dollars to the trapper for the cub and the trapper quickly agreed.
When the Canadians landed in England they headed by rail to Salisbury Plain where they were to do their battle training prior to going off to war in France. Westdown at Tilshead was the destination for the young bear cub and her owner.
To commemorate the final year of the centennial of World War One and acknowledge the service of the Canadian soldiers we would like erect a wall plaque on the wall of the Village Hall to mark the time when Winnie the black female Canadian bear lived for a short time at Westdown Camp South in 1914.
In addition to this 'Go Fund Me' appeal we are planning some fund raising events including but not limited to: quiz night, Teddy Bear picnic, Winnie Walk, sponsored marathon run, Saturday morning breakfasts, Easter event ....
The hope is to raise enough money for the plaque and have enough left over to purchase a book regarding the story of Winnie for every child in Tilshead village.
Organizer
Melanie Baker
Organizer
