Colebourn named the bear Winnie, after his hometown of Winnipeg. The irony? This tiny cub was a literal fierce animal’s baby, but she was a complete marshmallow. She slept under the vet’s cot, ate from a bottle, and followed him around like a labrador.
When the unit shipped out to England for World War I, Winnie went with them. She became the unofficial mascot of the Second Canadian Infantry Brigade. Try that on your office Zoom background.
The London Zoo Plot Twist
Eventually, Harry had to ship out to the front lines. He couldn’t take a bear to the trenches (bad idea). So, he did the next best thing: he donated her to the London Zoo. And that’s where the real magic happened.
This was no cranky, pacing zoo bear. Winnie was a sweetheart. She let children feed her milk, climb over her, and even ride her back. She was basically a giant, furry dog who liked condensed milk.
