James was born on a Virginia plantation which made him the slave of John Armstead, later Col. John Armstead of the Continental Army. He was inherited by his master’s son William in 1779. William allowed him to enlist in the Read more
Three colonial militiamen changed history. David Williams (25 years old), Isaac Van Wert (20), and their leader John Paulding (22). They were on duty near the Hudson River in New York looking for cattle rustlers. Nothing was happening so Read more
Lydia was an Irish immigrant who settled in Philadelphia. She and her husband were Quakers and thus pacifists. They gave birth to nine kids, but only five survived. Their oldest, Charles, enlisted in the Continental Army. When the British Read more
Would you move through a minefield with explosives that are waiting for you to step on one? Boom and you are dead. In World War 2, there were soldiers who were paired with dogs that were trained to find mines Read more
Dogs have been used in war since ancient history. The earliest mention was in a history of King Alyattes, King of Lydia, around 600 B.C. In 525 B.C., at the Battle of Pelusiam, Persian Emperor Cambyses put dogs, cats, Read more
Tich was a mutt (probably a terrier and dachshund mix) that was adopted by the British battalion in Egypt in World War 2. They nicknamed him “The Desert Rat” and he became their beloved mascot. His unit fought in Read more
James Symington was the founder of the canine unit for the Halifax Regional Police. Trakr was a German Shepherd who came to the unit from Czechoslovakia in 1995 as a puppy. Trakr was part of the confiscation of over a Read more
After the St. Mihiel Offensive on the Western Front in World War 1, Corporal Lee Duncan was sent to the village of Flirey to see if it had space for an airfield. On Sept. 15, 1918, he found a Read more
Maria Dickin was a social reformer and animal rights activist. She created the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals in 1917. It’s motto was: “Bring your sick animals/Do not let them suffer/All animals treated/All treatment free”. She even created a Read more
Prince Rupert was the son of Frederick V of the Palatinate and nephew of King Charles I of England. He loved war and started his military career when he was just 13. He fought in the 30 Years War when Read more