Because of Veteran’s Day over the weekend our name this week is:
Willie
Willie was General George S. Patton’s Bull Terrior.
General Patton was an avid animal lover. He bought the first of many bull terriers just after World War I for his daughters, Beatrice and Ruth Ellen, and named him Tank. Although Tank turned out to be deaf, the girls loved him and called him by stamping on the floor. In spite of his deafness, Tank somehow always knew when Patton was arriving home and met him at the front door.
The most famous bull terrier owned by General Patton was purchased on 4 March, 1944. He was named Willie, short for “William the Conqueror.” Willie was devoted to General Patton and followed him everywhere.
When General Patton bought Willie, he wrote in his diary, “My bull pup . . . took to me like a duck to water. He is 15 months old, pure white except for a little lemin [sic] on his tail which to a cursory glance would seem to indicate that he had not used toilet paper. . .” Willie wore jingle bells on his collar so everyone would know when he was around. He supposedly had his own set of “dog tags,” too.
Photo Credit: This photo was taken by a U.S. Army photographer in Europe after D-day, in 1944 or early 1945. It shows US 3rd Army Commander Lt. Gen. George S. Patton, Jr. in his 3 star uniform and helmet surrounded by his staff of one and two star generals. At his feet is his English Bull Terrier “William the Conqueror” (usually called Willie).
Tags: Historical Dog Names