The story of Arbroath’s wartime canine mascot could be told to a new generation.
Keptie Friends want to fund a storyboard to put beside Paddy the dog’s gravestone.
Paddy was the 2/1 Highland Cycling Battalion mascot and was laid to rest at Keptie Wood when he died in 1918.
Jean Stewart from Keptie Friends said: “Some of Keptie Friends ‘retired military wives’ have been looking after the stone since we formed in 2015.
“We all feel it is such a strong story about the faithful devotion to duty of a dog and just think respect being shown by maintaining his grave is the least we can do.
“People probably pass by the gravestone daily without being aware of the story. War should never be celebrated but loyalty and dedication is something to be upheld.
“We are considering funding a storyboard to put beside the stone.”
Paddy joined the battalion in October 1914 and was at various locations, including Montrose, before moving to Arbroath where McDonald Park was used as a camp and training ground.
He was buried at the edge of Keptie Wood by the soldiers of the Highland Cycling Battalion who made the headstone following his death on January 28.
In the 1970s the ground was to be dug up when the new road was extended and Paddy’s grave was moved to McDonald Park, such was his standing in the town.
John Clyde, the parks and cemeteries department superintendent, used to lay a wreath at the grave of Paddy each anniversary of his death and continued that honour until he retired in 1968.
The wreath-laying ceased at that point but was taken up again by retired police sergeant Patrick Anderson who has laid a poppy cross at the dog’s grave since returning to Angus in 1998.
Arbroath Conservative councillor Derek Wann said: “This is an excellent idea by Keptie Friends.
“I stay just around the corner from Paddy’s headstone and see it every day.
“It would be brilliant for all the townspeople to know about the history of Paddy and by having sign boards this would go a long way to getting the information out there.
“I would support the group in any way I can to ensure this is achieved.
“Likewise with any other Arbroath history – we need to keep these stories going for future generations.”
The 2/1 Highland Cyclist Battalion that Paddy was regimental dog from October 1914 was posted to Ireland at Athlone and then Curragh after Paddy’s death.
A few years ago a group of volunteers restored Paddy’s headstone to keep his memory alive while flowers were also planted at the grave.
The Highland Cycling Battalion was a bicycle infantry battalion of the Territorial Force, part of the British Army.
