Photographs of Military Mascots in WWI

Years before the United States Marine Corps officially adopted the bulldog as its mascot or the United States Military academy adopted the mule, many military regiments adopted mascots and pets. Some were donated by local groups and many were found.

165-WW-472A-048 – “Spike” of the First Regiment, Cavalry, N.Y.N.G.

165-WW-472A-059 – “Marshall” of Second Field Artillery, N.Y.N.G.

165-WW-472A-065 – Mascot of 7th Regiment Infantry, N.Y.N.G.

165-WW-472A-077 – Soldiers with Mascot outside Red Cross Canteen, France

165-WW-472A-060 – Plattsburg, New York

165-WW-472A-058 – Carlstrom Aviation Field, Arcadia, Florida

165-WW-472A-057 – Mascot of the Company B, 111th Machine Gun Battalion

165-WW-472A-061 – Regimental Mascot

Many of these mascots had jobs, whether utilitarian or ceremonial. Pigeons carried messages, dogs helped to lay telephone wires, and mules carried supplies and soldiers. However, most of the mascots provided kinship and comfort to the soldiers and were noted to significantly boost their morale.

 

 

165-WW-472A-063 – Company I, 3rd Ohio Russian Hound mascot

 

165-WW-472A-062 – Mascot at Carlstrom Aviation Field, Florida

 

165-WW-472A-050 – Mascot at Plattsburg, New York

 

165-WW-472A-056 – “Susan” the lion cub

 

165-WW-472A-052 – “Whiskey” and “Soda” lion cubs at Lafayette Escadrille

 

165-WW-472A-066 – Mascot on guard, France

 

165-WW-472A-051 – “Jewel” the fox at Van Cortlandt Park, NYC

 

165-WW-472A-072 – Baby monkey mascot at Camp Wadsworth

 

165-WW-472A-074 – Soldiers with mascots in France

 

165-WW-472A-046 – Bear cubs at Camp Logan, Colorado

 

165-WW-472A-070 – “Kay” the bear cub of Company K, 307th Regiment, Camp Upton

 

165-WW-472A-045 – Bear cub at Camp Wheeler, Georgia

 

165-WW-472A-078 – Mascot at Fort Meyer, Virginia

 

165-WW-472A-069 – The goat of Company K, Camp Upton

 

165-WW-472A-064 – Pet baby raccoon

 

165-WW-472A-054 – “Sam” the lion cub, France

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NARA is currently completing a large-scale project to digitize photographs and films from World War I, including these photographs from 165-WW, American Unofficial Collection of World War I Photographs, 1917-1918. Check back soon for updates on this project.