‘Sgt. Stubby’ was the name given to a dog brought to the Western Front by a soldier who found him while training in New Haven, CT. Stubby was adopted as the ‘mascot’ of the 102nd Infantry regiment (Connecticut National Guard) and later of the entire 26th ‘Yankee” Division. He was reported to be able to smell gas before the soldiers could, to hear subsonic artillery noise, to locate wounded men in No-Man’s Land and he also ferreted out a German spy. All of his awards and his rank were honorary. After his death in 1926 he was preserved by taxidermy and today is in the collections of the Smithsonian.
This animated movie, which will be released on 4,000 screens on April 18th, is described as presenting a ‘dog’s-eye view’ of the First World War. Hopefully, like Warhorse before it, this movie will promote a greater understanding of WW1 in an audience unfamiliar with the subject.
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