There are many stories of dogs and cats being mascots, but HMS Jaguar was presented with a live Jaguar during a visit to Rio de Janeiro. Other big cats were also gifted. A puma for HMS Puma, a Lynx for HMS Lynx and even HMS Ocelot was gifted an Ocelot!
In this selection you will see Churchill meeting the famous Blackie the cat onboard HMS Prince of Wales, the jaguar that was gifted to the crew of HMS Jaguar by Rio in 1963, a monkey called Winnie who was on the Portsmouth destroyer Velox and two huskies involved in the 1969 trek across the Arctic, that were on HMS Endurance.
5. Animals aboard Navy ships
Princess Elizabeth with Minnie the dining hall cat. HMS Vanguard 1947. Picture: John Hucker. Photo: The News archive
6. Animals aboard Navy ships
Scatters the cat onboard HMS Dreadnought with rating. Photo: The News archive
7. Animals aboard Navy ships
Peggy was the bulldog that lived on board HMS Iron Duke around 1922. It looks like she has won some medals. Photo: The News archive
8. Animals aboard Navy ships
Taken at HMS St Vincent circa 1910 are some of the Royal marines that served on HMS Good Hope which was sunk at the battle of Coronal off the Falklands in 1914. Sent in by Mrs Phyllis Brooks nee Dwyer of Alverstoke it shows her late father Ernest Joseph is seen middle centre with the cat. nos 1505 Photo: The News archive