Hambone Jr. was the beloved canine companion of the U.S. Army’s 47th Infantry Regiment, 9th Division during World War II. The “scruffy little terrier” brought delight and distraction for the American soldiers stationed in Alresford in 1944 as they prepared for the D-Day Landings. Tragically, as the troops who so adored him were preparing to depart for Normandy via Southampton and Portsmouth, Hambone Jr. was struck by a military vehicle and died.
Moved by the heartwarming story of companionship and loss during this anxious period in history, the local community honored Hambone Jr. by erecting a memorial stone at his gravesite by the River Arle in 1962. The inscription on the stone sweetly reads: “Here Lies Hambone Jr., Faithful Friend of the 47th Infantry Regt., 9th Division U.S. Army, May 1944.”
In a touching display of remembrance, during the 50th anniversary of D-Day, the American veterans paused in Alresford before their journey to Normandy for the commemoration. There, they paid their respects by laying a wreath at Hambone Jr.’s grave, a fitting tribute to the loyal companion who had comforted them in a time of war.
