[canadian1971]

Boatswain....good name for a Newfoundland Dog.

Quote:

There are dogs of history, but none of these could be compared to "Boatswain", the Newfoundland dog, who changed the European history more than once and belonged to the prince regent and later King George IV. of England.

Without this Newfoundland dog, however, Pitts great alliance of the European nations against France would not have taken place, and without this dog Waterloo and the tragedy of St. Helen´s would not have happened.

Boatswain was brought to England as a young puppy by a captain of the royal navy in 1801 and presented to the prince regent at the age of two. In a letter from this period he is described as the most beautiful dog of his breed. His coat was spotted steel grey and brown, he had a "majestic head", eyes full of fire and yet gentleness, and his beautifully shaped broad tail was in permanent motion. Boatswain began his part in history on one evening in 1804. At the time he was the prince´s bodyguard in Carlton-House in London. This night there was a reception for diplomats accredited to the court of St. James, and there were whispered rumours stating that England was on the bridge of breaking alliance with France. Nevertheless, the French envoy and the ambassador who had left Paris specially for this occasion, were chatting away quite harmlessly. They assured the neutrality and goodwill of the Prussian envoy, and Prussia was the final block in the alliance Pitts was striving for. While the Prince tried in wain to convince the Prussian diplomat of the advantages of a connection with England against France, Boatswain entered the prince´s room, happily wagging his tail. He was carrying something in his mouth, and the prince called him to his side. Boatswain handed him a letter, that without doubt had been dropped on the floor of the nearby salon. The door to the adjacent salon was ajar, and while the prince, deep in though, handed over the letter to the Prussian delegate, he saw the French envoy searching his pockets next door. The letter was addressed to him. "

"`Monsieur, I am writing to my envoy at the same time, the matter is of utmost importance. Any rapprochement between the Court of St.James and the Prussian envoy must - at all costs - be prevented. The latter is a man of a silly and complacent nature. You will have no difficulty in dealing with him. Bonaparte, first Consul.

´ Six weeks later the first coalition against the military tyranny of France has been signed and sealed. The prince some time later gave the Newfoundland dog to his friend Brummel, the world known dandy, who sold him to the Duke of Richmond for 7500 franc. After the peace of Amiens Boatswain, who because of his outstanding character was a dog in great demand, came to live with Lord Ross, a famous scholar. Lord Ross was granted permission to visit France and brought the dog with him. During an audience with the Emperor at St Cloud the dog made his way to Lord Ross and was very much petted by Napoleon. In 1814, as the Emperor was a prisoner on Elba, planning to escape to France, Boatswain through a legacy came into the possession of a captain of the royal navy. He commanded a ship anchored outside Elba, and was very surprised as he, while walking on the island, encuntered the emperor, and the Newfoundland dog ran after Napoleon and greeted him with great joy. Napoleon petted him, since he remembered the dog and even knew his name still. During the following night, in the tumult of a thunderstorm, Napoleon carried out an attack for the escape to France. As the emperor boarded the ship, an Englishman was brought on board by some officers, who had protected him from the soldiers with great difficulty.

As the emperor stepped on deck, he slipped and fell into the deep water right beside the ship. In the darkness, the excitement and the confusion of the moment, his disappearance went unnoticed, and Napoleon could not swim. A dark form dived after him, and after diving under twice he rescued the helpless emperor, by holding him above the water while swimming. It was Boatswain, the English prisoner was the captain, his master, who had been arrested as a spy as he wanted to return from a visit ashore. As proof of his gratitude the emperor made the captain and Boatswain part of his entourage until they reached Paris, from which they were escorted to Boulogne. There they were safely brought on board an English frigate. The Newfoundland returned to his former home with the prince regent in Windsor Castle, and the heir to the throne was a few months later present at the funeral of his old friend as well as at the erection of a marble memorial in Windsor Castle."

Source: Die Hundewelt, 1941
Source:" Das Neufundlaenderbuch" by Karin Broennecke

[canadian1971]

Well this one isnt European....more Asian........

Quote:

) Newfoundland dogs are renown for their friendliness, love of children and for their rescuing abilities. Since the breed was developed in Newfoundland over a hundred years ago, there have been many stories told of Newfoundlands saving passengers from sinking ships and rescuing children in trouble while playing in their favourite swimming holes. But there is one Newfoundland that showed bravery and loyalty beyond what is commonly credited to the breed. His name was Gander and he gave his life protecting Canadian and other Commonwealth soldiers on the beaches of Hong Kong Island during World War II.
(2) In 1940, Gander was the family pet of Rod Hayden, a resident of the town of Gander in Newfoundland. The dog's name at that time was Pal. He was well known in the town, but often mistaken as a bear by pilots landing at the airport. This gentle giant was loved by the neighbourhood children who used him to tow their sleds during winter. One day, while greeting a group of children, Pal's paw accidentally scratched the face of a six year old. Concerned that the dog might have to be "put down", Mr. Hayden gave Pal to the 1 st Battalion of the Royal Rifles of Canada as a mascot. His new owners called him Gander, after the military base they were responsible for protecting during the war.

(3) Gander and the Royal Rifles were sent to Hong Kong Island in 1941 where they joined other Commonwealth troops to defend the island against attacks by the Japanese. During the Battle of the Lye Mun, Gander displayed great bravery protecting his "newfound" friends. When the Japanese landed near the Canadian section of the beach, Gander greeted the enemy with threatening barks and attempts at biting their legs. On another occasion as Japanese troops were nearing a group of wounded Canadian soldiers, Gander surprised the enemy by charging them. For some reason, the Japanese were unwilling to shoot the dog. Instead, they changed their route and the lives of the wounded soldiers were saved.

(4) Gander showed his greatest and last act of bravery and loyalty during another Japanese attack. During the battle, an enemy grenade landed near a group of Canadian soldiers. Probably out of concern for his friends, Gander grabbed the grenade in his mouth and carried it to where it would do no harm. Unfortunately, the grenade exploded in Gander's mouth, killing him instantly. He had given his life saving the lives of the Canadian soldiers.

(5) The story of Gander's bravery, once well-known and told many times by residents of his h town, was almost forgotten. In a conversation between Mrs. Eileen Elms, who knew the dog as Pal and whose sister had been scratched by the dog, and local historian Mr. Frank Tibbo, Gander's act of bravery was mentioned. Through their efforts, Gander's story was revived and his act of bravery recognized.

(6) Gander, the Newfoundland dog, was posthumously awarded the prestigious Dickin Medal, equivalent to the Victoria Cross given to soldiers of the British Commonwealth for their acts of bravery. Gander was awarded the medal in August, 2000 at a Hong Kong Veterans of Canada reunion in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

References:

Ryan, Mandy. "Gander, The Dog Gets His Due", Gander Beacon, August 21, 2000.

Tibbo, Frank, "Gander's Heroic Dog", Gander Beacon, August 14, 2000.

link

[ziggy]

Not only would mine allways think any kids swimming in the lake needed saving,but she would lay on them while they were trying to toboggan thinking they needed to be kept warm.

The last part may have been the st bernard in her she got from her mom.
Her mom was prure st bernard and her dad was pure Newfie but she came out looking newfie.

[Blue_Nose]

I had one growing up - Bruno - slept on a hide-a-bed in the basement, and used to chase cop cars (only cop cars - very strange).

Great breed, almost as great as the NS duck toller

[ziggy]

Mine would ride in the back of the truck and take three chomps at every oncoming semi,cars were exempt. In the bush it would grab tree branches as you drove by and allmost get pulled out of the truck. By the time I got home the back of the truck would be full of leaves and branches.

[canadian1971]

ziggy wrote:

Not only would mine allways think any kids swimming in the lake needed saving,but she would lay on them while they were trying to toboggan thinking they needed to be kept warm.

The last part may have been the st bernard in her she got from her mom. Her mom was prure st bernard and her dad was pure Newfie but she came out looking newfie.

Thats probably because St Bernards were bread with Newfs many many moons ago....before that St Bernards were short hair dogs. Good fucking animals.


Lord Byron marked Boatswain grave with these words....

Quote:

NEAR THIS SPOT
ARE DEPOSITED THE REMAINS OF ONE
WHO POSSESSED BEAUTY WITHOUT VANITY
STRENGTH WITHOUT INSOLENCE
COURAGE WITHOUT FEROCITY
AND ALL THE VIRTUES OF MAN WITHOUT HIS VICES
THIS PRAISE WHICH WOULD BE UNMEANING FLATTERY IF INSCRIBED OVER HUMAN ASHES
IS BUT A JUST TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF
BOATSWAIN, A DOG
WHO WAS BORN AT NEWFOUNDLAND, MAY 1803,
AND DIED AT NEWSTEAD, NOVEMBER 18, 1808.