Apparel with a story
The Brave Bear Who Fought for Freedom
T-shirts carrying Wojtek, the bear Polish soldiers took in as a cub in Iran and who went with them all the way to Monte Cassino. We wear his mark because the story really happened.
- Shipped from PolandTracked courier to the UK and across the EU
- 14-day returnsNo reason needed. Send the T-shirt back and we refund you.
- Free delivery from £100on every order to the UK
From the warehouse
Ready to ship
Two prints
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Corporal Wojtek — history with a furry twist
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Where we come from
Not every hero wears a uniform. Some wear fur.
Corporal Wojtek comes from one true story. An orphaned bear cub, taken in by Polish soldiers in Iran, travelled with them across the Middle East and on to Italy. So that he could sail with the unit, he was entered on the army roll as a private. In time he made corporal, and that rank gave us our name.
We make plain T-shirts with a single mark so the story keeps travelling. When someone asks you about the bear, you will know what to say.
- The mark
- An engraving of the bear’s head, large on the back and small on the chest.
- Weight
- 185 gsm, no side seams, twin-needle shoulder seams, lycra-reinforced neck rib.
- Sizes
- S to XXL, every measurement in centimetres.
Brand history
Corporal Wojtek’s trail
- 1942Iran. Polish soldiers take in an orphaned bear cub and name him Wojtek.
- 1943Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Egypt. Wojtek eats with the men of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company, sleeps beside them and moves on with them.
- 1944Monte Cassino. To sail with the company to Italy he is entered on the roll as a private. According to the men who served with him, he helped carry ammunition crates at Monte Cassino. Corporal came later.
- 1946Scotland. In September the company lands at Glasgow with Wojtek and moves to a camp in Berwickshire.
- 1947Edinburgh. When the company is demobilised, Wojtek goes to live at Edinburgh Zoo.
- 1963Edinburgh. Wojtek dies at the zoo. His old comrades visit him to the end, and they said he came closer whenever he heard Polish spoken.
- TodayHis statue, walking beside a soldier of the Polish Armed Forces, stands in Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh. We wear his mark.
A gift
A gift with a story behind it
Plenty of people first heard about Wojtek from a grandparent. A T-shirt with his mark is a present that comes with something to talk about. Not sure of the size? Check the measurements, and if it does not fit you have 14 days to send it back.
How you buy
From basket to parcel
- You pick colour and sizeNo account needed, you give your address with the order.
- You payBy card.
- We packOrders paid by 12:00 on a business day are usually dispatched the same day, and the rest go out on the next business day.
- We shipWe will email you when your parcel ships.
Before you order
A few things worth knowing
Where does my parcel ship from?
From our own warehouse in Poland. Parcels travel to the UK by international courier, normally 4-8 business days including customs clearance.
What does delivery cost?
Delivery to the UK is £4.95. You see the amount in the basket before you pay anything.
Will I be charged anything on delivery?
Tax and any duty are handled under the UK rules, and the sales document that comes with your order says exactly how your parcel was treated.
How do returns work?
You have 14 days from delivery to cancel under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, no reason needed. Return postage is yours, and the refund goes back the way the payment came in.
How can I pay?
By card through Stripe, or by bank transfer. You pay in pounds, exactly the amount shown in the basket.
Who was Wojtek?
A Syrian brown bear taken in by Polish soldiers in Iran in 1942. He travelled with the 22nd Artillery Supply Company to Italy, and according to the men who served with him he helped carry ammunition at Monte Cassino. From 1947 he lived at Edinburgh Zoo, where his old comrades visited him until he died in 1963. His statue stands in Princes Street Gardens.
Question not here? Drop us a line. hello@corporalwojtek.com