Polish Hero enjoys a Bear ... sorry ...Beer ... - Polish Forces | Gallery

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#1

Polish Hero enjoys a Bear ... sorry ...Beer ...

Private Wojtek, the Polish Soldier Bear, of 22nd Polish Artillery Transport Company, enjoys a beer in Berwickshire, Scotland, prior to his Company's demobilisation (c. 1946). Wojtek (through his comrades) refused repatriation to Communist-ruled Poland in favour of taking up residence at Edinburgh Zoo, where he died, of old age, in 1963. While with the Polish forces, like many soldiers, he developed a liking for beer and cigarettes (he did not usually smoke cigarettes - he liked to eat partly smoked ones). Oh well, even heroes have their bad habits; Napoleon's tobacco snuff habit was probably what killed him ... Best regards, JR.

This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://ww2incolor.com/gallery/polish-forces/42720/polish-hero-enjoys-a-bear-...-sorry-...beer-...
#2

Sounds like the “Watch Bear” of Judge Roy Bean, who operated in what is now called Langtry county Texas. It was known as Vinegaroon prior to the Judge’s renaming it for the object of his admiration, Lily Langtry.
Was there a post by the Lone Star Kid about this picture? he is probably just jealous, or saying we did it first. just ignore him. There is a movie titled “The Life, and Times of Judge Roy Bean” well worth the watching, if you can find it.

#3