More than a mascot, ‘he was also a soldier’

Children’s literature often leans on imagination, but sometimes the most powerful stories are those rooted in truth.

Whitey’s Journey: A Four-Legged Soldier in the Second World War, the debut picture book by Canadian author and military historian Kelsey Lonie, is one such tale.

Published by Heritage House, the book recounts the remarkable journey of Whitey, a collie who became more than a mascot — he became Trooper Whitey, a loyal companion and enduring symbol of resilience for Winnipeg’s Fort Garry Horse regiment in the Second World War.

The story begins in 1939 when Whitey broke free of his leash to greet marching soldiers in Winnipeg. That moment sparked a bond that carried him through training, parades and eventually into the regiment’s ranks.

Whitey was even assigned an official number and pay, cementing his place in the regiment.

“Whitey wasn’t just a mascot — he was also a soldier, a friend and a symbol of hope for men facing the unimaginable,” Lonie says.

The idea for the book came about by chance.

“Gord Crossley and I were sitting after attending the Organization of Military Museums of Canada conference, and I mentioned my love of mascot dog stories. Gord told me the story of Whitey, the Garry’s mascot during the Second World War, and his story just captured my heart,” Lonie recalls.

Crossley, 17 Wing heritage officer and curator at the Fort Garry Horse Museum and Archives, had long been piecing together Whitey’s legacy.

“We had a basic version from the FGH wartime history Vanguard, published in 1945,” he says.

Further research into the regiment’s war diary annexes, held at the Library and Archives Canada, turned up an article written for Canada Weekly magazine.

For Lonie, who once taught Grade 3 before becoming a military historian, the collie’s tale was a natural fit.

“Whitey’s story embodies the loyalty, friendship and sacrifice of Canadians at war. Dogs have a remarkable ability to help children — and adults — connect with and make sense of complex moments in history,” she says.

Her research was meticulous, drawing on wartime diaries, newspapers and archives. She even traced Whitey’s burial site in Great Britain, though time and tides have erased its physical marker.

Still, his memory endures.

Whitey’s death was recorded in The Rally newspaper on May 1, 1944: “One of the oldest members of the Fort Garrys has gone to the Great Beyond. The entire regiment grieves his passing. Gone is a pal. Gone is a gallant dog. Whitey has departed.”

For Lonie, the book is not only about history but about empathy.

“Children deserve stories that are true, that honour the past and that help them understand the world with empathy,” she says.

Crossley agrees that Whitey’s story is more than anecdote — it is legacy.

His presence in film footage, photographs and wartime accounts ensures he will not be forgotten. Ultimately, Whitey’s Journey is a reminder that service and sacrifice came in many forms.

“Every time we think about Whitey, we remember that Canadian soldiers, some with two feet and others with four, gave their lives to protect us so we can live in peace,” Lonie reflects.

Once the manuscript was complete, Lonie reached out to illustrator Renée Hansen.

“She loved the story and created two sample pages with her beautiful watercolour art. Heritage House accepted it almost immediately. They were a perfect match,” Lonie says.

The book is intended for children ages six to nine, but Lonie believes it speaks to all ages.

With Whitey’s Journey, Lonie and Crossley ensure that the memory of a loyal collie — a soldier in spirit and in service — continues to inspire new generations.

The Winnipeg launch of Whitey’s Journey is Saturday at 2 p.m, in the officers’ mess (3rd floor east) of the Lieutenant-Colonel Harcus Strachan VC, MC Armoury, 551 Machray Ave.