Extraordinary Adventures of the Newfoundland Dog

Newfoundland dogs! Go coast-to-coast to uncover the history and lore behind one of Canada's most famous dog breeds. Stick around after the Newfies for a bonus story about Labrador Retrievers!

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The Defence of Hong Kong:
Our attempt to keep this episode focused on Newfoundland dogs (like Sergeant Gander) meant leaving out much about Hong Kong, a significant battle in WWII which began so soon after Pearl Harbour that it's often overshadowed and overlooked.

First, we would like to note a correction: technically, the attack on Hong Kong did not take place an entire day after Pearl Harbor, but 6 hours later (the international date line is the cause for this common confusion).

The Royal Rifles of Canada and the Winnipeg Grenadiers sailed from Vancouver to the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong in late October, 1941, and while the invasion in early December didn't come as a complete surprise, there had been a feeling of optimism—life in the colony had continued as usual in the weeks leading up to the attack. The British commander was offered an opportunity to surrender prior to the attack, but sent his response just 15 minutes later. A one-word answer: "no." The British believed there would be no battle, and it was a mistake that would cost the Canadians dearly.

The Canadian battalions sent to battle were largely inexperienced, but fought bravely, and there were numerous acts of heroism like that of Gander the dog. Sergeant-Major John Osborn similarly threw himself on a grenade that could not be returned at the enemy, smothering the explosion and saving the lives of nearby soldiers.

On Christmas Day, 1941, the colony surrendered to Japan. Approximately 290 Canadian soldiers were killed defending Hong Kong. Those who survived the battle became prisoners of war and endured torture by their Japanese captors. Approximately 264 died in POW camps, bringing the human toll to 554. More on the battle here: https://bit.ly/2BnvqKw

Sgt. Gander was posthumously awarded the Dickin Medal for Gallantry (essentially the Victoria Cross for animals) on Oct. 27, 2000. The ceremony was attended by 20 surviving members of Gander’s regiment. In 2015, the commemorative statues were unveiled in Gander, and members of the Royal Rifles attended once more.

Those explorers we mentioned:
David Thompson and Alexander Mackenzie did not make their way through the Canadian wilderness alone. They traveled in parties, and were led by Indigenous guides. When Mackenzie crossed North America, his party of voyageurs and guides included the Dene chief Awgeenah. Awgeenah (who is also known as Mistapoose and Nestabeck) guided Europeans to the coast more than once. Before travelling with Mackenzie, Awgeenah led Matonabbee and Samuel Hearne along the Coppermine River to the Arctic Ocean.

Landseer:
English artist Sir Edwin Landseer was particularly fond of painting animals in service to people. He's best known for his paintings of horses, dogs and stags, and for the lion sculptures in Trafalgar Square. His paintings of black and white Newfoundland dogs, especially those depicted as water rescue dogs, were among his most popular—so much so, that the black and white variety of Newfoundlands became known as Landseers.

In the Dominion of Newfoundland, only black or black and white Newfoundlands were considered proper members of the breed.

S.S. Ethie:
There may be more fiction than truth to aspects of this tale. The story as we describe it was broadcast around the world at the time, and has been repeated ever since. But, some sources suggest it may have been another breed, and it may not have brought a rope to (or from) the ship. The strange thing is, a few years earlier, a Newfoundland dog performed this exact feat with ANOTHER shipwreck in Kent, England. You can read about dozens of other heroes in Robert Parsons' book 'The Newfoundland Dog: True Stories of Courage, Loyalty, and Friendship.'

Lewis & Clark:
Lewis & Clark crossed the continent years after Alexander Mackenzie, and they ALSO had a Newfoundland dog with them, named Seaman. He was a crucial part of their voyage, retrieving meals and standing guard. The pair were inspired to purchase their dog by Mackenzie.

Place names:
For storytelling purposes, we occasionally refer to locations from a contemporary perspective. We will always side with simplicity, flow, and clarity in order to make the episodes as engaging as possible.

DESCRIBED VIDEO VERSION: https://vimeo.com/950407265/3eb46529bb?share=copy

00:00 S.S. Ethie Shipwreck
01:33 Origins
03:07 Explorers
04:09 Sgt. Gander
06:17 Bonus Story: Labrador Retrievers

Видео Extraordinary Adventures of the Newfoundland Dog канала Canadiana