South Yorkshire Times, June 24th, 1944
Outside the cookhouse at Brigade Headquarters of a Division in Italy stands “Horace,” who is known to the troops as “Private Gander, H.” Horace” is a gander with history – and a very short temper. He is the Brigade’s watch-dog mascot. And he hates Italians!
“Horace” arrived in the camp last October at Qualiano. He immediately found a devoted keeper in Private T. H. Cragg of 37, Hatherley Road, Swinton, near Mexborough.
“We bought him and his mate Hermintrude from a farmer,” explained a Corporal. “The idea was to fatten them up for Christmas. Together with five pigs, we towed them around the various battle-fronts in an old trailer hauled by an Italian gun tractor. The brigade transport officer bought “Horace” from us (also thinking of his Christmas dinner) and became quite attached to him.
“Well, one day at Sessa Aurunca, overlooking a steep valley, we let the two geese out for their daily flight. They must have overshot the mark a bit, because the transport officer suddenly shouted to me to dash down to the village and catch them. An Eye-tie with a shot gun raised our worst fears, but he swore he hadn’t shot hem – although he knew what had happened. We found poor old Horace tied by the leg to a chest of drawers, but Hermintrude was already killed and plucked ready for the pot.
“After that, of course, we felt too sorry for old “Horace” to kill him. “Horace” has been under shell-fire and never turned a feather. He now has three ducks to keep him company in the camp but he tends to bully them and have them on parade at frequent intervals. At night he goes to a tent and hops in a box ready for the lid to be out on. At 0630 hours each morning he is let out. In many parts of Italy he has been able to live on chestnuts, although his favourite meal is an orange and a crust of bread.”
Pte. Cragg jointed the Army five years ago and has seen service in North Africa, Egypt, Italy and Jerusalem. He received the Naples medal last year in commemoration of the capture of that city.