Apparel with a story
Corporal Wojtek. The bear who became a soldier
A collection built around the Syrian brown bear who crossed Iran, Iraq, Palestine and Egypt with the 22nd Artillery Supply Company of the Polish II Corps, and ended up at Monte Cassino.
Story · Corporal Wojtek
He could only board the ship to Italy if he was on the roll, so the army signed him up as a private with a service number and a paybook of his own. Corporal came later. At Monte Cassino he carried crates of ammunition, and the company put a bear holding a shell on its badge. After the war he settled at Edinburgh Zoo, where his old comrades kept coming to see him. What we make is a nod to that: heavyweight cotton, embroidery and prints carrying the badge of the 22nd Company.
- Shipped from PolandInPost and courier across the EU and the UK
- 14-day returnsno questions asked, simple procedure
- Original tagsdirect import, limited batches
Brand signature
Corporal Wojtek's trail
- 1942Hamadan, Iran. Soldiers of the 22nd Company buy an orphaned bear cub from a Persian boy.
- 1943Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Egypt. Wojtek crosses the Middle East with the company and learns to carry crates alongside the men.
- 1944Monte Cassino. Signed on as a private so he can board the ship to Italy, he hauls ammunition. The company puts a bear with a shell on its badge; corporal comes later.
- 1947Scotland. Demobilised from a camp in Berwickshire, he moves to Edinburgh Zoo.
- 1963Edinburgh. He dies at twenty one. His old comrades kept visiting to the end.
How you buy
Four steps from cart to parcel
- Cart and orderPick a variant, enter your address. An account is optional.
- Payment and documentBLIK, card, bank transfer or cash on delivery. Your invoice or receipt arrives by e-mail.
- Warehouse packsWe reserve stock by EAN and hand the order to the warehouse the same day.
- Shipping and trackingYou get the tracking number by e-mail. Check the status without signing in.
Catalogue
All products (8)
Corporal Wojtek Apparel
Corporal Wojtek T-Shirt, Black
Corporal Wojtek Apparel
Corporal Wojtek T-Shirt, Field Green, Night Eye
Corporal Wojtek Apparel
Corporal Wojtek T-Shirt, Grey, Night Eye
Corporal Wojtek Apparel
Corporal Wojtek T-Shirt, Italian Blue
out of stockCorporal Wojtek Apparel
Corporal Wojtek T-Shirt, Mint Green
Corporal Wojtek Apparel
Corporal Wojtek T-Shirt, Navy
out of stockCorporal Wojtek Apparel
Corporal Wojtek T-Shirt, White
Corporal Wojtek Apparel
Corporal Wojtek T-Shirt, White, Night Eye
Before you buy
The questions we get most often
How do these fit?
Straight, classic cuts with no tapering. The cotton is heavy, so it settles a little after the first wash but does not shrink much. Every size is listed in centimetres.
What does delivery cost?
Within Poland PLN 14.99, and free once the basket passes PLN 199.00. Across the EU and to the UK it is €12.00. Everything leaves our warehouse in Poland.
What if the size is wrong?
Fourteen days to return it, no reason needed. If you only want to swap a size, write to us before you post it back and we will set the right one aside.
Is the Wojtek story real?
It is. The bear was bought in Iran in 1942, crossed the Middle East with the 22nd Artillery Supply Company, carried ammunition at Monte Cassino, and lived out his life at Edinburgh Zoo, where his old comrades came to see him. He died in 1963.
Question not here? Drop us a line. hello@corporalwojtek.com
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