By By Lynn Curwin Oct 14, 2010 in World Edinburgh - A monument is to be erected in memory of "Private Wojtek", a 500 pound brown bear who served alongside Polish soldiers during World War ll before retiring to the Edinburgh zoo. A maquette shows Peter Prendys, who took care of Wojtek, with his hand on the animal’s shoulder. Members of the 22nd Company of Polish Army Corps got Wojtek as a cub, after his mother was killed. He provided the men with entertainment by wrestling with them, getting into mischief, getting stuck up a palm tree and cornering an Arab spy. During the battle of Monte Cassino in 1944, he helped his comrades unload boxes of artillery shells. "Wojtek may be most famous for assisting his fellow soldiers in carrying the shells, but really the value was in the effect his presence had on morale,” "I was very keen to depict that close friendship they enjoyed with him, as well as the entertainment and laughter he brought to the troops. "We are also talking to people about raising a similar statue in Warshau and Monte Cassino. "It's not just about the bear, it is also to commemorate the part the Polish played in the Second World War. "The British and other European countries own a great deal to them." Wojtek was moved to Edinburgh Zoo in 1947. The campaign to erect the memorial is backed by Cardinal Keith O'Brien, former governor of Edinburgh Castle Euan Loudon, and Aileen Orr, author of the book Wojtek the Bear: Polish War Hero. Orr said she had been captivated by the bear since visiting him at Edinburgh Zoo when she was eight. A Polish friend was with her and when the child spoke in Polish his ears pricked up and he waved at the girls. Orr's grandfather had met the bear during the war and told her stories about him when she was young. "Like many men, my grandfather didn't like to talk about the war,” "But he was able to talk about it a bit by telling me about Wojtek. He met the bear while he was serving in Palestine and Egypt and it made a great impression on him. "What the bear offered all of these men was comfort. At a time when they were far from home, had nothing, and often no-one, Wojtek stood in for the wives, children, pets, family they'd left behind. He was someone to live love and someone who loved them back." Edinburgh's Lord Provost George Grubb said Wojtek was a cherished figure in Edinburgh and was part of the history of the city’s Polish community. Wotjek is a Polish name which means the "happy warrior.” The statue, which is expected to cost about £200,000, is being created by Scottish sculptor Alan Herriot and will be placed in Edinburgh. The exact location has not yet been determined.A maquette shows Peter Prendys, who took care of Wojtek, with his hand on the animal’s shoulder.Members of the 22nd Company of Polish Army Corps got Wojtek as a cub, after his mother was killed.He provided the men with entertainment by wrestling with them, getting into mischief, getting stuck up a palm tree and cornering an Arab spy.During the battle of Monte Cassino in 1944, he helped his comrades unload boxes of artillery shells."Wojtek may be most famous for assisting his fellow soldiers in carrying the shells, but really the value was in the effect his presence had on morale,” The Telegraph quoted Herriot as saying."I was very keen to depict that close friendship they enjoyed with him, as well as the entertainment and laughter he brought to the troops."We are also talking to people about raising a similar statue in Warshau and Monte Cassino."It's not just about the bear, it is also to commemorate the part the Polish played in the Second World War."The British and other European countries own a great deal to them."Wojtek was moved to Edinburgh Zoo in 1947.The campaign to erect the memorial is backed by Cardinal Keith O'Brien, former governor of Edinburgh Castle Euan Loudon, and Aileen Orr, author of the book Wojtek the Bear: Polish War Hero.Orr said she had been captivated by the bear since visiting him at Edinburgh Zoo when she was eight. A Polish friend was with her and when the child spoke in Polish his ears pricked up and he waved at the girls.Orr's grandfather had met the bear during the war and told her stories about him when she was young."Like many men, my grandfather didn't like to talk about the war,” The Telegraph quoted Orr as saying."But he was able to talk about it a bit by telling me about Wojtek. He met the bear while he was serving in Palestine and Egypt and it made a great impression on him."What the bear offered all of these men was comfort. At a time when they were far from home, had nothing, and often no-one, Wojtek stood in for the wives, children, pets, family they'd left behind. He was someone to live love and someone who loved them back."Edinburgh's Lord Provost George Grubb said Wojtek was a cherished figure in Edinburgh and was part of the history of the city’s Polish community.Wotjek is a Polish name which means the "happy warrior.” More about Bear, Statue, Monument, Nazis, Solider More news from bear statue monument nazis solider wojtek