Army Mascot. Philly was a stray picked up by a member of Company A, 315th Infantry Division, from Philadelphia while they were training in Maryland during World War I. The troops named her Philly and smuggled her onto a troop ship bound for Europe. Philly lived with the troops in the trenches and her barking alerted them when German forces were in the area. The German Army offered a bounty for Philly as she slowed down their advances. Philly was awarded the Purple Heart twice after she was wounded by shrapnel and gassed. After the War, Philly marched with the 315th Infantry before President Woodrow Wilson in Washington, DC. For the next 14 years she lived with Sgt. Charles Hermann in Philadelphia and she attended all the reunions of the regiment. When Philly died in 1932 at the height of the depression, the 315th Infantry took up a collection and took her to a taxidermist. She was given a place of honor at the Battalion's headquarters on Wissahickon Avenue in Philadelphia where she remained as their mascot until they disbanded in 1998. Philly was donated to the Philadelphia City History Collection at the Atwater Kent Museum of Philadelphia where she is one of their most popular attractions.
Army Mascot. Philly was a stray picked up by a member of Company A, 315th Infantry Division, from Philadelphia while they were training in Maryland during World War I. The troops named her Philly and smuggled her onto a troop ship bound for Europe. Philly lived with the troops in the trenches and her barking alerted them when German forces were in the area. The German Army offered a bounty for Philly as she slowed down their advances. Philly was awarded the Purple Heart twice after she was wounded by shrapnel and gassed. After the War, Philly marched with the 315th Infantry before President Woodrow Wilson in Washington, DC. For the next 14 years she lived with Sgt. Charles Hermann in Philadelphia and she attended all the reunions of the regiment. When Philly died in 1932 at the height of the depression, the 315th Infantry took up a collection and took her to a taxidermist. She was given a place of honor at the Battalion's headquarters on Wissahickon Avenue in Philadelphia where she remained as their mascot until they disbanded in 1998. Philly was donated to the Philadelphia City History Collection at the Atwater Kent Museum of Philadelphia where she is one of their most popular attractions.
Gravesite Details
Philly is mounted and on display at the Museum.
Advertisement
Advertisement
