Informal portrait of 3133 Corporal James Coull, in charge, with dogs of No. 3 Messenger Dog ...

Place Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Amiens Harbonnieres Area, Villers-Bretonneux Area, Villers-Bretonneux
Accession Number E02318
Collection type Photograph
Object type Negative
Maker Unknown Australian Official Photographer
Place made France: Picardie, Somme, Amiens Harbonnieres Area, Villers-Bretonneux Area, Villers-Bretonneux
Date made 3 May 1918
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

Informal portrait of 3133 Corporal James Coull, in charge, with dogs of No. 3 Messenger Dog Section, attached to the 4th Divisional Signal Company, in a railway cutting near Villers-Bretonneux while operating with 12th Brigade. Section comprised sixteen men and fifty messenger dogs. These dogs worked with fairly successful results, but were never solely relied on in sending messages. Left to right: War Dog 103 Nell, a Cross Setter; 102 Trick, a Collie; 101 Buller (sometimes referred to as Bullet), an Airedale. All three dogs were very efficient in message carrying and saw service with the 2nd, 4th and 5th Australian Divisions, also with Divisions of the British 8th Corps (Imperial). 102 Trick was particularly efficient and was well known by all Brigades of abovenamed Divisions. He was specially mentioned by Signal Officer of 2nd Division for good work at Rubimont, near Heilly.