collar, dog

Leather dog collar belonging to Caesar, bulldog mascot of "A" Company 4th Battalion N.Z.R.B. "Ceasar"

description: studded leather collar; marked: 'CEASAR / 4TH BATTALION / N.Z. RIFLE BRIGADE'

Caesar the bulldog, wearing his official collar, as mascot of the 4th Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, led the grand parade down Auckland's Queen Street before the Brigade left New Zealand for the war. He was a trained Red Cross dog and helped rescue wounded troops during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. Dogs were especially useful for helping stretcher-bearers find wounded soldiers in no man's land at night. Rifleman Tom Tooman, of Auckland, was Caesar's handler. Caesar was killed in action.