Bamse the sailor’s best friend
Bamse, the WW II veteran dog and sailors' best friend remembered.
HIS Norwegian name means ‘teddy bear,’ but this heroic mascot, World War II veteran, baby sitter and ‘designated driver’ did far more for human kind than warming feet in winter.
Bamse, the famous Saint Bernard dog, sailed the seas since puppy days with his best buddy, Captain Erling Hafto, master of the Norwegian whale catcher Thorodd.
When World War II broke out, Thorodd became a coastal patrol vessel for the Royal Norwegian Navy and later a minesweeper, with Bamse bravely standing guard at front gun tower, sporting his specially made metal helmet.
The hero hound and lifesaver rescued a young lieutenant by once pushing a gun-wielding attacker overboard and on another occasion fished out a sailor who fell overboard.
Bamse was an expert peacemaker, reading fighting crew members the riot act with his paws firmly pressed on their shoulders.
In Scotland, Bamse was tasked with rounding up his crew from their favourite hangout, the Bodega Bar, escorting the not so sober safely onto the bus and back to the vessel before curfew.
Traveling solo, he carried his bus pass on his collar.
Bamse became the Royal Norwegian Navy’s mascot and favourite cover dog for Norwegian Easter and Christmas cards.
When he died of heart failure, the faithful soldier was buried with full military honours with hundreds of mourners, including sailors, Allied servicemen, children and townspeople.
He was posthumously awarded the Norges Hundeorden for war service and the George Cross (for animals) for gallantry and devotion to duty.
Information from Wikipedia: Bamse (St Bernard)
