Army Donkey Delivers Christmas Mail in Shrewsbury, 1941

During the Christmas season of 1941, an army donkey was reassigned from her regular duties for a specific mission. Four-year-old Jessie, accompanied by her handler Pte Taffy Ellis, was tasked with delivering holiday mail to Shrewsbury residents to alleviate a significant mail backlog. Utilizing her cart, typically employed for moving soldiers’ kit bags throughout the town, Jessie collected sacks filled with letters from the Royal Mail sorting office and commenced her delivery work. Dr Robert MacKinnon of the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum commented, “She would have been an ideal Santa’s little helper, because donkeys are capable of carrying heavy loads relative to their size and their ability for quick changes in speed.” According to Dr MacKinnon, Pte Ellis had trained Jessie for her role of carrying kit bags when the war began. He further stated, “She would not leave for work until consuming a grass roll, and had shaken herself into a comfortable roughness, meaning she had prepared her body for the day ahead.” Jessie retired from military service in 1946 and was subsequently adopted by Lady Sybil Grant. She lived out her final years at Pitchford Hall, located close to Shrewsbury. Lady Sybil had created a painting of Jessie specifically for the Copthorne army barracks in Shrewsbury. This artwork, alongside a photograph depicting Jessie and her handler, is currently housed at the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum. Dr MacKinnon remarked, “Donkeys across time and cultures have regularly been characterised unjustly and have received little recognition for their vital services rendered to us humans.” He continued, “For example, donkeys have frequently been labelled stupid and associated with backwardness and poverty, this has had harmful effects.” Fortunately, reports indicate that Jessie received excellent treatment at the military training centre where she was stationed, not only from Private Ellis but also from other soldiers. Information regarding BBC Shropshire can be found on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.