A Toast to Bobbie the Mongrel
By Carlo the Mastiff, as told to Brian Wilson
I – Carlo the Mastiff from "The Adventure of the Copper Beeches" – like many Afghanistan Perceivers and other Sherlockians – only wish that humans had half the dignity and honor of dogs. Humans, the lesser of the two species, have no better friends than dogs, yet they feel entitled, on dreadful occasions, to mistreat them, as is done with me and countless other noble beasties. Why? I don't know because dogs are the best people humans know.
And Arthur Conan Doyle knew this. As much as he could as a Victorian man with status, he had empathy for dogs and what humans could do to them. He saw that joyous people have frisky dogs and that cruel people imbedded hate into naturally happy canine lives and destroyed them.
Therefore, it's fitting, if not providential, that a dog, a mongrel, a fice was involved in the Fatal Battle of Maiwand, the seminal event for the Afghanistan Perceivers' existence as a scion society of the Baker Street Irregulars. John H. Watson's wound in this battle forces him to return to London, where young Stamford introduces him to Sherlock Holmes.
Bobbie, a smallish dog from Reading, is a display piece at the museum for the 66th Regiment of the Foot (also known as the Berkshire Regiment) in Salisbury. I know from having sniffed Bobbie's descendents that he was/is a cross between a Cardigan Welsh corgi and a white English Springer spaniel. That's straight from the dog's mouth ... and nose.
Bobbie belonged to Lance Sergeant Peter Kelly and accompanied the regiment into the Fatal Battle of Maiwand on 27 July 1880. Twelve of the regiment -- 11 humans and one dog -- survived. All reports call Bobbie a war hero as he alerted his outnumbered, outgunned comrades by barking ferociously at the enemy and attacking those within biting distance. Amid the confusion of the regiment's withdrawal to Kandahar, Bobbie got lost but found his way to the regiment and Sgt. Kelly, although the little dog was wounded (like his owner).
When the regiment returned to England, Bobbie and others from the 66th were presented to Queen Victoria, who awarded the humans with Distinguished Conduct Medals. Some reports say Bobbie received a medal that day, too, but others say Bobbie was slighted. By the way, Victoria's great-great-granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, would have undoubtedly honored Bobbie. If she could grant a knighthood to Rod Stewart -- gag! -- then this dog-loving queen would have certainly hung some royal hardware around Bobbie's neck.
A year after the audience in the palace, death finally caught up with Bobbie, who was accidentally run over by a hansom cab. He was stuffed and given an Afghan war medal by an unknown soldier. He can be seen at the regimental museum in Salisbury.
So, let us ... paws ... to lift our glasses … fur … Bobbie. He was worth every … scent … and his … tail … will be told for centuries to come. And Arthur Canine Doyle would agree that Bobbie was the bravest of doggy war heroes.
Here's to Bobbie.
And Arthur Conan Doyle knew this. As much as he could as a Victorian man with status, he had empathy for dogs and what humans could do to them. He saw that joyous people have frisky dogs and that cruel people imbedded hate into naturally happy canine lives and destroyed them.
Therefore, it's fitting, if not providential, that a dog, a mongrel, a fice was involved in the Fatal Battle of Maiwand, the seminal event for the Afghanistan Perceivers' existence as a scion society of the Baker Street Irregulars. John H. Watson's wound in this battle forces him to return to London, where young Stamford introduces him to Sherlock Holmes.
Bobbie, a smallish dog from Reading, is a display piece at the museum for the 66th Regiment of the Foot (also known as the Berkshire Regiment) in Salisbury. I know from having sniffed Bobbie's descendents that he was/is a cross between a Cardigan Welsh corgi and a white English Springer spaniel. That's straight from the dog's mouth ... and nose.
Bobbie belonged to Lance Sergeant Peter Kelly and accompanied the regiment into the Fatal Battle of Maiwand on 27 July 1880. Twelve of the regiment -- 11 humans and one dog -- survived. All reports call Bobbie a war hero as he alerted his outnumbered, outgunned comrades by barking ferociously at the enemy and attacking those within biting distance. Amid the confusion of the regiment's withdrawal to Kandahar, Bobbie got lost but found his way to the regiment and Sgt. Kelly, although the little dog was wounded (like his owner).
When the regiment returned to England, Bobbie and others from the 66th were presented to Queen Victoria, who awarded the humans with Distinguished Conduct Medals. Some reports say Bobbie received a medal that day, too, but others say Bobbie was slighted. By the way, Victoria's great-great-granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, would have undoubtedly honored Bobbie. If she could grant a knighthood to Rod Stewart -- gag! -- then this dog-loving queen would have certainly hung some royal hardware around Bobbie's neck.
A year after the audience in the palace, death finally caught up with Bobbie, who was accidentally run over by a hansom cab. He was stuffed and given an Afghan war medal by an unknown soldier. He can be seen at the regimental museum in Salisbury.
So, let us ... paws ... to lift our glasses … fur … Bobbie. He was worth every … scent … and his … tail … will be told for centuries to come. And Arthur Canine Doyle would agree that Bobbie was the bravest of doggy war heroes.
Here's to Bobbie.