5. Script.docx

1. Jack Simons
Script
Wojtek, pronounced Voytek
 Wojtek wasborn in 1942 in Iran he wasorphaned soon after
 Wojtek wasbrought up by polish soldiers
 Wojtek wasaSyrian brown bear from Iran
 Wojtek’scaretaker wasalso called Wojtek
 Wojtek waspart ofthe 2nd Transport Company, Artillery Division, Polish 2ndCorp
 hisclosest friendswere twoyoung soldiers, Dymitr Szawlugo and Henryk Zacharewicz
 Wojtek drank beer and smoked with soldiers.
 Wojtek once capturedathief.
 Wojtek wasenlisted to evaderulesbanning pets.
 Woytek carried artillery shellsand ammunition during thebattle ofmontecassino.
 After the battle,the official badge ofthe22nd Transport Company becamealikenessofWojtek holding ashell. Thissymbol
appeared on vehicles, pennantsand on the uniformsofthe soldiers.
 Woytek went from Iran through themiddleeast to Egypt and then to Italy and eventually to theUK.
 After the war Wojtek lived in EdinburghZoo making appearances on blue peter and other televisionprogrammes.
 Wojtek died in 1963 at age 21 and hisdeath.
 Wojtek hasmany memorialsacrossthe world.
In 1939, PolandwasinvadedbyRussiaand Germanyinwhichthe Polishcitizenslosttheircitizenship
and freedom.Theywere deportedtoRussiatobe formedintothe ‘Andersarmy’afterGermany
turnedon Russiaanddecidedtofightthem.MostPolishevacueesescapedtocountrieslikeRussia
and the UK, and some wenttoIran. In Iran1942 a youngboydiscoveredasickorphanedblackSyrian
bear.Afterhisdiscoveryof the Bearhimand an Artillerycompanyhelpednurse the bearbacktoa
goodhealthystate by whichtheygave it plentyof milkandfourman's rationsa day to keephim
alive.The soldiersnamedhimVoytekmeansbrave warriorinoldpolishandthe name of his
caretaker.He was giventothe 22nd
ArtillerySupplyCompanyasa 2nd
pet aftera monkey. The
monkeyandVoytekwere friendsbutunfortunatelythe monkeydiedof aninfection.Voytekwas
givencigarettesandbeerswhichhe enjoyedwhichwereprovidedbythe soldiers.Hisclosestfriends
were DymitrandHenryk.Whenthe soldierswere takingabreakVoytekwouldwrestlewithsoldiers
whowere brave enoughwhichotherlessbrave soldiersenjoyedgreatly.Voytek wentfromIran
throughthe middle easttoEgypt and thentoItaly.One nighta local thief wastryingto steal military
equipmentbutwas stoppedwhenhe enteredVoytek'stent,Voytekwasrewardedwithabeer.
WhenVoytekarrivedatItalyhe was enlistedasa private toevade the no pets'rule.Duringthe
battle of Monte CassinoWoytekcarriedartilleryshellsandammunition.Afterthe battle,the official
badge of the 22nd ArtillerySupplyCompany became alikenessof Wojtekholdingashell.This
symbol appearedonvehicles,pennantsandonthe uniformsof the soldiers.Followingthe war
VoytekwasmovedtoBerwickshire inScotlandwiththe 22nd
ArtillerySupplyCompany.In1947
VoytekwasdemobilisedandmovedtoEdinburghZoo.Duringthe 1950s he made many media
appearancesandwas a frequentguestonblue peter.Throughouthistime atEdinburghZoomostof
the soldiersvisitedgave cigarettes.Voytekdiedin1963 at age 21 and hisdeath.Voytekhasmany
memorialsacrossthe worldanda movie isbeingmade abouthislife.