WALLACE AND HIS UNAUTHORISED ATLANTIC ARRIVAL

Vancouver Island’s Canadian Scottish Regiment was the devoted owner of a St. Bernard who was their Regimental Mascot. When WW11 broke out, and the Regiment was ordered to sail to Britain, the Regiment decided Wallace would sail with them & that any Quarantine Requirements of the U.K. should be

ignored.

It was planned that as the ship neared the British Coast, the Regimental Medical Officer would Administer an Anaesthetic to the dog & he would soon fall into a restful slumber. Then he would be loaded into an empty crate which would be left with other crates to be winched ashore.  Once on the dock, the crates would quickly be loaded on trucks ready for a speedy departure.

Unfortunately, the fates conspired & the unloading proceeded at a snail’s pace. Wallace woke up from his dreams & became frightened to find himself totally in the dark. Worse still, nothing appeared to explain where he was or what had caused his isolation. He started to howl but it did no good. His dark prison just swayed in the breeze. The Crane crew appeared to be moving hardly at all, & Wallace’s howls grew louder & louder.  

Fearing the Authorities would hear the poor imprisoned beast, the Regimental Band Major ordered the Pipes Fortisimo. Finally the crane got the crate down close to the ground but the operator banged it down so hard the crate shattered. Wallace was now fully exposed to the view of all & the Regiment had to pay a stiff penalty for it’s delinquency.