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Taken from the Black and White Budget - weekly magazine.1900

A couple more photos of man's best friend...

"Bushie" had quite a life. Firstly he was donated to the Australian Contingent by the Animals' Protection Society of New South Wales. Imagine the R.S.P.C.A. of today sending an animal off to a war zone! Then, after service at the front, Queen Victoria decided she wanted "Bushie", and whatever the Queen wanted she got. So the animal was shipped off to England, where he died in 1906, while in the keep of King Edward VII's Land Steward.


Maitland Weekly Mercury, Saturday 27 October 1906

Death of "Bushie."

Mr. Montagu Rothery, secretary of the Animals' Protection Society of New South Wales writes to a contemporary as follows: —

News has just reached me from England that "Bushie," the regimental pet of the New South Wales Bushmen's Contingent, is dead. He died at the Red House, Durrington, in Salisbury, where he was in charge of the King's land steward, Sir Andrew Slater.

It will be remembered that "Bushie" was presented to the contingent by the Animals' Protection Society of New South Wales in recognition of the mutual affection that exists between a bushman and his dog. "Bushie's" career has been a rather remarkable one, and it may be truly said of him that he passed from cot to palace. From humble circumstances at Wentworth Falls, in the mountains, he was taken at eighteen months old, to accompany our Bushmen's Contingent. Being a rough bush collie he was considered the most suitable breed to fill the part of pet for the bushmen. We claim for him that he was the first dog to be officially sent to war (other dogs have accompanied troops to war, but not officially). He was named by Sir Frederick Darley, Lieutenant-Governor at the time, passed through the Government offices for inspection of the Premier (Sir John See) and the other members of the Cabinet, and finally handed over at the Chief Justice's chambers in the Supreme Court to Colonel Airey's orderly. It was the late Queen Victoria's wish to have the dog at the close of the war. This wish was carried out, and he was taken charge of by Lord Roberts at Pretoria, who look him to England, and presented him to her Majesty at Windsor. During the war he was wounded in the shoulder. Since then "Bushie'' has been in the custody of Sir Andrew Slater, in whose family he became a great pet, and is pathetically reported in the letter containing the news of his death, that Sir Andrew's youngest son watched for hours by ''Bushie's" side to comfort him while dying.





Printed on the reverse of the card: “Bushie”. The first dog officially sent to the South African War was the pet of the Australian Contingent. He was presented by the Animals’ Protection Society of N.S.W., and was named by Sir Frederick Darley (Lieutenant-Governor). He passed through the Government Offices for inspection by the Premier (Sir John See), and members of the Cabinet, an was then placed under the charge of Colonel Airey’s orderly. In accordance with the late Queen Victoria’s wish to have “Bushie” at the close of the war, he was duly presented to Her Majesty at Windsor by Lord Roberts, and became the pet of the Royal Kennels. Bushie’s first home was a cottage at Wentworth Falls, N.S.W., his last, a palace, for he has since died while in the custody of the King’s Land Steward, Sir Andrew Slater.
This photograph is made from the original painting by Wollaston J. Thomas, effected prior to Bushie embarking for South Africa.





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Neville's Modder Dog from 3rd Batn Grenadiers in colour.