The German battleship was sunk on 27 May
1941. Of more than 2200 men on board, only
116 survived, together with Oscar, the ship's
cat. He was picked up by the British
destroyer HMS Cossack, but she too was
torpedoed a few months later, on 24
October, with the loss of 159 lives. Attempts
to rescue the ship failed, and she was
abandoned and sank two days later. Oscar
survived again, was taken to Gibraltar, and
was then taken on by HMS Ark Royal. His
stay there was even shorter, as the aircraft
carrier was torpedoed by U-81 on 13
November, eventually capsizing and sinking
only 30 miles (50 km) from Gibraltar.
1941. Of more than 2200 men on board, only
116 survived, together with Oscar, the ship's
cat. He was picked up by the British
destroyer HMS Cossack, but she too was
torpedoed a few months later, on 24
October, with the loss of 159 lives. Attempts
to rescue the ship failed, and she was
abandoned and sank two days later. Oscar
survived again, was taken to Gibraltar, and
was then taken on by HMS Ark Royal. His
stay there was even shorter, as the aircraft
carrier was torpedoed by U-81 on 13
November, eventually capsizing and sinking
only 30 miles (50 km) from Gibraltar.
| XXX |
could cause economic damage if the ship was carrying grain or similar substances as
part of its cargo. Rats and mice were also sources of disease, an important
consideration for ships which could be at sea for long periods of time. Cats naturally
attack and kill these rodents.
Ship's cats have been especially important in wartime, when supplies could be short,
and men were far from home for extended periods and welcomed feline
companionship. Sadly, since 1975 the British Royal Navy has banned cats, and indeed
all animals, from its ships. It's a far cry from the days of Louis XIV's French Navy in
part of its cargo. Rats and mice were also sources of disease, an important
consideration for ships which could be at sea for long periods of time. Cats naturally
attack and kill these rodents.
Ship's cats have been especially important in wartime, when supplies could be short,
and men were far from home for extended periods and welcomed feline
companionship. Sadly, since 1975 the British Royal Navy has banned cats, and indeed
all animals, from its ships. It's a far cry from the days of Louis XIV's French Navy in
| If you have a picture you'd like us to feature a picture in a future quiz, please email it to us at CFitzp@aol.com. If we use it, you will receive a free analysis of your picture. You will also receive a free Forensic Genealogy CD or a 10% discount towards the purchase of the Forensic Genealogy book. |
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However, I did not check the content of those sites. Had I done so, I would have read the story of Blackie, not the other cat. Thanks to all the readers who straightened me out this week. Meow! - Q. Gen. |
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| Congratulations To Our Winners Joyce Veness Donna Jolley Sharon Martin Jackie McCarty Milene Rawlinson Joshua Kreitzer John Thatcher Jim Collett Arthur Hartwell Gary Rice John Pero Sally Garrison Karen Petrus John Sellers Mary Osmar Carol Farrant Rebecca Bare Janice Sellers Melva Robbins Dennis Brann Gus Marsh Fionna Brooker Bob Witherspoon Christine Walker Elizabeth Olson Angel Esparza Diane Legere Diane Scannell Bill Utterback Mike Dalton John and Susie Roberts Marcelle Comeau Daniel Jolley Collier Smith Robert Edward McKenna Quiz Poet Laureate |
| Comments from Our Readers |
| Quiz #373 Results |
| Click here to see results of 5th occasional photoquiz survey. |
| Click here to see results of 10th occasional photoquiz survey. |
| Answers to Quiz #373 - October 28, 2012 |
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| 1. What is the name of the cat? 2. What is the name of the ship? 3. What is his story? Do you believe it? |
| "Cat is a Cat, And that is that." Said Dr. Seuss. But there was much more to one Cat's story! One that brought a Ship's mascot a lot of glory. Robert Edward McKenna Quiz Poet Laureate Returned from hiatus in the Far East ***** What is Naval protocol When greeting a cat? Do you make the first move? Do you take off your hat? Should you wait for a sec 'Til a paw is extended To give your respect So he isn't offended. I'll toy with this later No need for such flap. It's just after dinner. So time for my nap! Colleen Fitzpatrick PhD Understudy to Quiz Poet Laurreate Robert Edward McKenna |
| Submitted by Quizmaster Suzan Orchard-Farris. |
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| How Arthur Solved the Puzzle |
| I googled Ship's Cats and immediately was sent to wikipedia where all was explained. Tineye gave 5 other locations where the (reverse) picture could be found. Google's images gave many copies of Winston Churchill and Blackie. One of them put me on brigadierblackie.blogspot.com where I found more about Blackie. Arthur Hartwell |
| At Sea: Ship's Cats www.purr-n-fur.org.uk/featuring/war02.html en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship's_cat |
For a long time it was thought that cats first
started to become domesticated some 5,000
to 8,000 years ago, when the Egyptians
began storing grain and the rats and mice
moved in for a feast. However, in 2004 an
archaeological dig at a Neolithic village in
the south of the Mediterranean island of
Cyprus unearthed the skeleton of a cat
alongside that of a human who had been
carefully interred. This makes it the earliest
known domestic cat, dated to about 9,500
years ago.
started to become domesticated some 5,000
to 8,000 years ago, when the Egyptians
began storing grain and the rats and mice
moved in for a feast. However, in 2004 an
archaeological dig at a Neolithic village in
the south of the Mediterranean island of
Cyprus unearthed the skeleton of a cat
alongside that of a human who had been
carefully interred. This makes it the earliest
known domestic cat, dated to about 9,500
years ago.
In August of 1941 Winston Churchill,
Britain's wartime prime minister, was
meeting President Roosevelt of the USA
on board this battleship while it was
positioned off the coast of Newfoundland;
they were discussing the Atlantic Charter.
Churchill noticed the ship's large, black
cat Blackie apparently about to desert in
favour of the American ship Augusta,
moored alongside, whereupon he
immediately bent down to stroke the cat
and stopped him from leaving. Churchill
was very fond of cats and at the time had
his own 'Nelson' at home.
Britain's wartime prime minister, was
meeting President Roosevelt of the USA
on board this battleship while it was
positioned off the coast of Newfoundland;
they were discussing the Atlantic Charter.
Churchill noticed the ship's large, black
cat Blackie apparently about to desert in
favour of the American ship Augusta,
moored alongside, whereupon he
immediately bent down to stroke the cat
and stopped him from leaving. Churchill
was very fond of cats and at the time had
his own 'Nelson' at home.
Answers: 1. Blackie aka Churchill 2. HMS Prince of Wales 3. Winston Churchill (pictured with Blackie) met him after attending a secret meeting to discuss the Atlantic Charter with Franklin Roosevelt on board a ship off the coast of Newfoundland. |
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| Remark from the Quizmaster General |
Convoy was the ship's cat aboard HMS
Hermione. He was so named because of
the number of times he accompanied the
ship on convoy escort duties. Convoy
was duly listed in the ship's book and
provided with a full kit, including a tiny
hammock where he would sleep. He
stood by his ship to the end and was lost
along with 87 of his crew mates, when
the Hermione was torpedoed and sunk on
16 June 1942 by U-205.
Hermione. He was so named because of
the number of times he accompanied the
ship on convoy escort duties. Convoy
was duly listed in the ship's book and
provided with a full kit, including a tiny
hammock where he would sleep. He
stood by his ship to the end and was lost
along with 87 of his crew mates, when
the Hermione was torpedoed and sunk on
16 June 1942 by U-205.
| Ship's Cats of Note en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship's_cat |
| This is the first time in the 7 1/2 years I have been posting the quizzes that I have been completely in error about a photo. When Suzan Farris submitted the quiz, she identified Blackie as Unsinkable Sam, with his own incredible story (see below). In researching the quiz, I checked whether the picture could be found on Tineye-in fact, there are about half a dozen sites where it is posted. |
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| This picture is a perfect illustration of the maxim, "Dogs have owners; cats have staff". To solve this puzzle, we toyed with some ideas, batted around a few strategies before we stalked it via search engines. We cornered it using the search terms, shipboard, cat, and naval, which allowed us to pounce on the site en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship's_cat. On learning some details, we pursued the puzzle mercilessly, finally delivering the killing-bite. We proudly lay its carcass at your feet for your approval. Why are you standing on a chair? Gotta go, it's nap time. John and Susie Roberts N.B. Makes purrfect sense to me... - Q. Gen. |
| Pooli at 15, on July 4, 1959 Pooli served aboard a United States attack transport during the Second World War. A veteran who rates three service ribbons and four battle stars, Pooli shows she can still get into her old uniform (pictured on her fifteenth birthday). |
| Blackie Meets Churchill August 1941 www.purr-n-fur.org.uk/featuring/war02.html |
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Blackie was, of course, straight away renamed Churchill and was a much loved
mascot. When the ship was sunk later that year off Malaya by the Japanese, with great
loss of life, Churchill the cat managed to make it ashore with some of the crew to Sime
Road Royal Air Force Station in Singapore. He settled in with them, shared their rations
and moved camp with them. But in February 1942 orders came to evacuate Singapore
within hours and Churchill, off on one of his hunting trips, could not be found in time.
Despite extensive searches, he finally had to be left to his fate.
mascot. When the ship was sunk later that year off Malaya by the Japanese, with great
loss of life, Churchill the cat managed to make it ashore with some of the crew to Sime
Road Royal Air Force Station in Singapore. He settled in with them, shared their rations
and moved camp with them. But in February 1942 orders came to evacuate Singapore
within hours and Churchill, off on one of his hunting trips, could not be found in time.
Despite extensive searches, he finally had to be left to his fate.
| Simon, of HMS Amethyst awarded the Dickin Medal for gallantry under enemy fire Read story. |
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Later the Egyptians took cats on Nile boats to catch birds in the thickets along the
riverbanks — the first waterborne cats! (right) Before long, traders from other nations
were taking felines on their ships to help control rodents, and that is how cats started to
colonise the world.
As time went by they reached virtually all parts of the world by ship, and over the
centuries their offspring developed into different breeds according to the climate in
which they found themselves and the mates they took.
The history of ships' cats thus goes back a very long time indeed.
Cats do not have a natural or important place in mankind's wars in the same way as
dogs, horses and some other animals do, since (as cat owners will know!) it is very
difficult to get a cat to do what you want. There were stories that the Americans tried
to use cats during the Vietnam war, but they were too easily distracted and either
riverbanks — the first waterborne cats! (right) Before long, traders from other nations
were taking felines on their ships to help control rodents, and that is how cats started to
colonise the world.
As time went by they reached virtually all parts of the world by ship, and over the
centuries their offspring developed into different breeds according to the climate in
which they found themselves and the mates they took.
The history of ships' cats thus goes back a very long time indeed.
Cats do not have a natural or important place in mankind's wars in the same way as
dogs, horses and some other animals do, since (as cat owners will know!) it is very
difficult to get a cat to do what you want. There were stories that the Americans tried
to use cats during the Vietnam war, but they were too easily distracted and either
started playing or disappeared into the
jungle! However, these tales are
apocryphal. During the nineteenth century
it is said that the Belgians tried using cats
to deliver letters, but with a marked lack
of success.
There is one function that cats have
fulfilled since time immemorial, though,
and that is as ship's cats, where they kept
the vessel's stores free from rodents.
These rodents, when aboard, could cause
considerable damage to ropes and
woodwork. More serious was the threat
rodents posed to the stores the ship
carried. Not only could they devour the
foodstuff carried to feed the crew, they
jungle! However, these tales are
apocryphal. During the nineteenth century
it is said that the Belgians tried using cats
to deliver letters, but with a marked lack
of success.
There is one function that cats have
fulfilled since time immemorial, though,
and that is as ship's cats, where they kept
the vessel's stores free from rodents.
These rodents, when aboard, could cause
considerable damage to ropes and
woodwork. More serious was the threat
rodents posed to the stores the ship
carried. Not only could they devour the
foodstuff carried to feed the crew, they
Lieutenant Commander R H Palmer
OBE, RNVR plays with Peebles, the
ship's cat, who leaps through his
clasped arms on board HMS Western
Isles, at Tobermory, Mull
OBE, RNVR plays with Peebles, the
ship's cat, who leaps through his
clasped arms on board HMS Western
Isles, at Tobermory, Mull
the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, when
it is reported that all French ships were ordered to
carry two cats for rodent-control duties.
Cats, being attached to a territory as much as to
people, are better mascots for a ship's company —
or perhaps for an air-force base — than they are for
an army regiment which is likely to be on the move
for much of the time during war. The story of
Simon of HMS Amethyst is well known and it
seems likely that one reason he didn't survive in
quarantine was simply that he pined so much for his
ship and his friends on board. Some ships had more
than one cat (and many kittens were born at sea);
and ship's cats were able to, as it were, 'rise
through the ranks' to become the mascot of a
particular part of a ship, such as the engine room or
one of the mess-decks, before going on to maybe
ultimately become the 'official' mascot of the whole
vessel.
it is reported that all French ships were ordered to
carry two cats for rodent-control duties.
Cats, being attached to a territory as much as to
people, are better mascots for a ship's company —
or perhaps for an air-force base — than they are for
an army regiment which is likely to be on the move
for much of the time during war. The story of
Simon of HMS Amethyst is well known and it
seems likely that one reason he didn't survive in
quarantine was simply that he pined so much for his
ship and his friends on board. Some ships had more
than one cat (and many kittens were born at sea);
and ship's cats were able to, as it were, 'rise
through the ranks' to become the mascot of a
particular part of a ship, such as the engine room or
one of the mess-decks, before going on to maybe
ultimately become the 'official' mascot of the whole
vessel.
Tiddles at his station aboard
HMS Victorious. He
eventually travelled over
30,000 miles (48,000 km)
during his time in service.
HMS Victorious. He
eventually travelled over
30,000 miles (48,000 km)
during his time in service.
| Ships' Cats in War and Peace by Val Lewis Revised 2002, August 2002 Table of Contents |
again, was taken to Gibraltar, and was then taken on by HMS Ark Royal. His stay there
was even shorter, as the aircraft carrier was torpedoed by U-81 on 13 November,
eventually capsizing and sinking only 30 miles (50 km) from Gibraltar.
Yet again Oscar was lucky — but there were no more ships for him, as it was decided
that his presence was certainly not lucky! By now known as Unsinkable Sam, this great
survivor among cats stayed as mouse-catcher in the Governor General of Gibraltar's
office buildings until he was taken by a brave ship to Belfast, in Northern Ireland
(although some reports say Plymouth). There he lived until his death in 1955, at the
Home for Sailors. A portrait of him has a place of honour in the National Maritime
Museum in Greenwich, on the River Thames near London.
Some serious researchers of the matter believe that the tale of Oscar as given above,
while it makes a marvellous story, is what would probably today be called an 'urban
myth', and is highly unlikely to have happened in that way, or even at all.
The reasons are several:
1. None of the survivors from Bismarck remembers there being such a cat on the ship
— not even the Baron, who would have been in its likely home of the wardroom.
2. There is no photographic or documentary evidence of a cat on board (and there are
plenty of surviving photos of and from Bismarck).
3. A small animal like a cat in the sea could not have reached a rescue ship. Both of the
rescue ships present (neither of which was the Cossack, incidentally) were high-sided
vessels, and Bismarck's survivors, covered in oil, had to climb ropes in heavy seas to
reach safety — so how could an extremely wet cat have got on board? A sailor would
not have been able to reach down and pick it up, either. And no cat could have survived
for long, drenched through and very cold, to be picked up later.
4. Human survival instincts make it extremely unlikely that any sailor, German or
British, as much as they liked their mascots, would have rescued an animal under the
very poor conditions at the time, when all efforts were being concentrated on saving
human lives.
5. The Ark Royal part of the tale sounds similarly unlikely. On that occasion the ship
sank very slowly; there was time to evacuate all survivors in an orderly way, and no
one had to be rescued from wreckage. If there had been a cat alive, unless it hid itself
very well, it would not have had to be in the water at all.
was even shorter, as the aircraft carrier was torpedoed by U-81 on 13 November,
eventually capsizing and sinking only 30 miles (50 km) from Gibraltar.
Yet again Oscar was lucky — but there were no more ships for him, as it was decided
that his presence was certainly not lucky! By now known as Unsinkable Sam, this great
survivor among cats stayed as mouse-catcher in the Governor General of Gibraltar's
office buildings until he was taken by a brave ship to Belfast, in Northern Ireland
(although some reports say Plymouth). There he lived until his death in 1955, at the
Home for Sailors. A portrait of him has a place of honour in the National Maritime
Museum in Greenwich, on the River Thames near London.
Some serious researchers of the matter believe that the tale of Oscar as given above,
while it makes a marvellous story, is what would probably today be called an 'urban
myth', and is highly unlikely to have happened in that way, or even at all.
The reasons are several:
1. None of the survivors from Bismarck remembers there being such a cat on the ship
— not even the Baron, who would have been in its likely home of the wardroom.
2. There is no photographic or documentary evidence of a cat on board (and there are
plenty of surviving photos of and from Bismarck).
3. A small animal like a cat in the sea could not have reached a rescue ship. Both of the
rescue ships present (neither of which was the Cossack, incidentally) were high-sided
vessels, and Bismarck's survivors, covered in oil, had to climb ropes in heavy seas to
reach safety — so how could an extremely wet cat have got on board? A sailor would
not have been able to reach down and pick it up, either. And no cat could have survived
for long, drenched through and very cold, to be picked up later.
4. Human survival instincts make it extremely unlikely that any sailor, German or
British, as much as they liked their mascots, would have rescued an animal under the
very poor conditions at the time, when all efforts were being concentrated on saving
human lives.
5. The Ark Royal part of the tale sounds similarly unlikely. On that occasion the ship
sank very slowly; there was time to evacuate all survivors in an orderly way, and no
one had to be rescued from wreckage. If there had been a cat alive, unless it hid itself
very well, it would not have had to be in the water at all.
| A Case of Mistaken Cat-Identity The Cat We Mistook for Blackie aka Churchill www.purr-n-fur.org.uk/featuring/war02.html |
6. Lastly, there seem to be two different versions of Oscar!
The photo (right), although copied a number of times,
definitely shows a striped tabby. However, the painting in
the British National Maritime Museum (above), supposedly
of Oscar, shows a 'tuxedo' (black-and-white) cat. They
cannot both be correct — but is either of them? Did Oscar
ever exist, or was he the figment of someone's fertile
imagination?
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