118 British War Dogs 



was on the point of death, he was ordered to be de- 

 stroyed. 



" At the post-mortem examination it was discovered 

 that a rifle bullet was resting between the shoulder and 

 body, while near the small of the back a piece of shrapnel 

 was found lodged close to the spine. Through all his suffer- 

 ings the dog carried out his duties cheerfully and most 

 faithfully until he was overtaken by death." 



The keepers found considerable difficulty at first in 

 working the dogs with the Australian troops, as the latter 

 were somewhat indifferent in observing the regulations 

 with regard to the dogs in the field. When, however, a 

 commanding officer possessed the gift of discernment 

 and recognized the real benefit of using the dogs and 

 seeing that they received proper treatment, the result 

 appears to have been satisfactory. 



Lieut. -Colonel Owen H. Read, Canterbury Regiment, 

 sends the following report : 



" War Dogs 



" During the winter of 1917-1918, while the Division was 

 in the Ypres Sector, I had two of these attached to my 

 battalion. 



" Owing to the broken nature of the ground we were 

 holding and the bad weather which was experienced, com- 

 munication between the Company and Battalion Head- 

 quarters was exceptionally difficult, and the dogs on several 

 occasions proved of great value in conveying messages 

 when other means of communication failed, being far 

 more rapid than runners, who in some cases were unable, 

 owing to heavy shell-fire, to deliver their messages. 



