124 British War Dogs 



Very kind, of course, but spoiling the dogs. I at once 

 informed the signal officers of both Brigades, and it was 

 stopped. That was one of our greatest troubles — troops 

 feeding and fussing about the dogs. 



" On the 25th of April, I was wounded in the attack by 

 the enemy on Kemmel Hill, and was in hospital some time. 

 I returned to No. 1 Section early in October. I only had 

 one turn in the line however, with my three dogs, as ' Jerry ' 

 threw up the sponge. I might say, that ' Major ' was given 

 to Keeper Hunt, when I was in hospital, and he did 

 hundreds of runs for him. One run he did for Hunt is 

 worth telling. Taken forward in an attack, an advance 

 was made of 17 kilos., without much opposition. ' Major ' 

 was then released by the Brig. -General's orders with a 

 message asking for help at once. ' Major ' did the 17 kilos, 

 in one hour. He isn't much to look at — a cross lurcher 

 and deerhound, but a heart of gold." 



The following Report given me is of interest : 



" In July, 1918, when the main force of the German 

 attack had subsided, and our policy appeared to be to 

 cut off small portions of German salients, preparatory to 

 the great general advance, small battalion offensives were 

 in vogue, with a view to taking and consolidating strong 

 points, from which larger offensives were eventually 

 pressed forward. In these small offensives (which were 

 more than raids, inasmuch that the ground taken was 

 consolidated and held), the messenger dogs proved of 

 invaluable service. Telephone wires were almost im- 

 possible from the front lines of newly-acquired territory, 

 and as these offensives were carried out invariably by 



