A true story - In the darkest days of World War 11 - in the midst of devastation there was innocence and hope!
A Royal Filly
The heat was sweltering that night in the hills near Coriano. Italy . It was September 15th 1944, and the shelling on the Gothic line was heavy and unrelenting. Civilians in fear for their lives took shelter wherever they could, some hiding in stacks of hay or in abandoned buildings. Farm animals, however, which had once grazed in the pastures beneath cool shade trees, were completely vulnerable to the battle that raged around them. Dead livestock littered the countryside.
The 8th Princes Louise’s (New Brunswick) Hussars – for the most part farm boys from southern New Brunswick, were on the front lines, and while amid the shelling they heard the scream of a wounded animal. When the firestorm briefly subsided, they quickly investigated, and came upon a young filly that had been struck by shrapnel.. The baby, who had been born just two or three months before stood trembling and bleeding from leg and belly wounds. The mare lay dead on the ground beside her – a well worn path beaten by the foal around her mother told of the filly’s agony, as hunger, thirst and pain urged her on. The Canadian soldiers corralled the frightened baby and took her for medical attention.
Lance Sergeant Kelly was the medic on the scene during that fierce battle He recalls that day ‘Dead cattle were lying upside down bloated and swollen- killed by the shelling – things like houses were broken mostly. I think from our own fire because there might be enemy in it. - The colt was not seriously wounded or anything there were some bad scratches on the leg and the belly as I recall. It was very hot and a lot of flies in that country and infection is what you have got to be really worried about’
No doubt the filly brought back the family farm into sharper focus, but the 8th Princess Louise’s (NB) were also once a cavalry unit and horses very much part of their proud history . During World War 11 it formed part of the 5th Armoured Division
To think that suddenly among all that devastation there was a purpose a defenseless animal that needed human intervention to survive. It became a mission albeit a covert one. The little horse wounds dressed. Daily medical follow ups It wasn’t long before the filly the very special name of Princess Louise by her human protectors no higher name could have been placed upon the animal by the Hussars
Kelly recalls the tension of that fierce battle that had claimed the filly’s mother ‘It was some determined enemy over the ridge . . . we managed to arrange an attack on the enemy and as we went forward we managed to get over the Coriano Ridge. The 1st Canadian Division was fighting along the coast. We were just a little bit further inland and then we come out for a regrouping – when the orphaned filly suddenly appeared
I didn’t expect to see it again
The filly had found a home with tender loving care from the 8th Canadian Hussars. She marched at the head of parades and was saluted by soldiers who had quickly grown to love her – and she arrived in St John New Brunswick March 27 1946 amid thunderous cheers from curious onlookers. Not long after was reunited with the men who had saved her life.
The new mascot was welcomed by a guard honour of St John complete with a band and a special greeting from Brigadier Agnew the District officer of Military District 7
And a parade where she marched in full regalia amid the 8th Hussars badges and flashes 5th Canadian Amoured Division with maroon patch and her campaign medals 1939- 1945 star, The Italy Star, the France and Germany Star, Canadian volunteer Service Medal and three Wound Stripes
Onward she was transported to Hampton and on the steps of the Kings County Court House. There became a naturalized citizen. Her fame endured and she was in great demand. She met Field Marshal Montgomery, The Duchess of Kent, Governor General Vincent Massy -and she stole the show when she ate the flowers presented the Princess Alexandra
The orphaned filly had perhaps made life on the front lines a little more bearable for the fighting men of the 8th Hussars. Her impact on the morale on the darkest days of World War 11 will never be forgotten in the midst of devastation there was innocence and hope. Kelly smiles and nods ‘Yes, even though we had to steal a horse to do it’
