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According to the MOD he was first posted to the 5th Infantry Division then on the re-organisation ofthe Polish Army in the Middle East, he was transferred to 1st Krechowiecki Lancers Regiment, 2 Warszawska Armoured Division, 2nd Polish Corps, 8th British Army on 18th July 1942 somewhere in those times he was also in the 6th Field Regiment, Light Artillery, Communications, 2nd Polish Corps, 8th English Army.
Wladyslaw (Walter) Duda, now about 87 years old and still gardening in 2008.
Walter and Florian became friends when they met in Canada although they were in adjoining camps when in northern Africa he is not in the photo.
That is Wojtek. Walter told me, Wojtek loved playing in the water. One day Walter and others were in a river in Iraq along with Wojtek and his handler. They were all splashing around in the water and having fun. Walter, using his hands, scooped up a big amount of water and splashed Wojtek in the face and he didn’t like it. So he jumped on Walter knocking him under the water and Walter thought he was going to drown with the weight of Wojtek on top of him. Fortunately, Walter was able to scramble to the surface and got out of his way. The others wondered what happened why was he running? Wojtek was just a young bear at this time and Walter said he liked playing with the soldiers but you had to play with him gently..... like a baby, as Walter quickly learned. Wojtek’s handler, on the other hand, could do anything without Wojtek retaliating. Walter fondly remembers Wojtek and enjoyed his stories on your site. He was also happy to hear that Wojtek’s will not be forgotten.
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