Private Jackie Baboon's war

During the First World War, the pet baboon of Private Albert Marr followed the soldiers of the 3rd South African Infantry Regiment into the heat and horror of battle

- Mike Burgess

When, in 1915, Albert Marr from the farm Cheshire near Pretoria volunteered to fight in the First World War (1914- 1918), his pet chacma baboon, Jackie, became a mascot for the 3rd South African Infantry Regiment, to which he was assigned.

As Marr went through basic training, Jackie (who, along with his master, was enlisted as a private) learnt to march, salute and even use cutlery and a tin cup in the mess, to the delight of the young soldiers.

In Action

The first assignment of the 3rd South African Infantry Regiment (also known as the Transvaal Regiment) took place not in Europe, but in the North African desert. In collaboration with other South African and British units, they were to deal with the Senussi jihadists of Libya and Egypt. Led by the Grand Senussi, Ahmed Sharif as-Senussi, who had sworn allegiance to the Ottoman Turks, the jihadist army threatened British-controlled Egypt.