Whitey’s Journey: A Tale of Loyalty and Legacy

By Martin Zeilig

In the world of children’s literature, few stories blend historical truth with emotional resonance as seamlessly as Whitey’s Journey, the debut picture book by Canadian author and military historian Kelsey Lonie.

Published by Heritage House, this beautifully illustrated work recounts the true story of a collie named Whitey who became an unlikely soldier during the Second World War. Through whimsical art and heartfelt prose, Lonie crafts a narrative that is both educational and deeply moving—an ode to the enduring bond between humans and animals in times of hardship.

The story begins in 1939, when a troop of Canadian soldiers are marching through Winnipeg. They catch the attention of a young collie pup named Whitey. Breaking free of his leash, Whitey runs to greet the men, sparking a friendship that would carry him across continents and into the heart of war. These soldiers were members of The Fort Garry Horse, a proud armoured regiment based in Winnipeg.

As the men trained for combat, Whitey became their constant companion, leading parades, boosting morale, and eventually earning an official regimental number and pay. He was no longer just a mascot; he was Trooper Whitey.

“Whitey wasn’t just a mascot—he was a soldier, a friend, and a symbol of hope for men facing the unimaginable,” Lonie, who responded to a reporter’s questions via email, explains.

Her words reflect the emotional gravity of this journey.

The idea for the book came to Lonie during a layover at the Calgary Airport.

“Gord Crossley and I were sitting after attending the Organization of Military Museums of Canada conference, and I mentioned my love of mascot dog stories,” she recalls. “Gord told me the story of Whitey, the Garry’s mascot during the Second World War, and his story just captured my heart.”

That conversation sparked renewed interest in Whitey’s legacy.

“We had a basic version from the FGH wartime history Vanguard, published in 1945,” says Gord Crossley, 17 Wing Heritage Officer and curator at The Fort Garry Horse Museum and Archives.

“It was later incorporated into the FGH history Facta Non Verba, published in 2012. Further research into the regiment’s war diary annexes, held at the Library and Archives of Canada, turned up an article written for Canada Weekly magazine.”

As a former third grade teacher and now a military historian, Lonie immediately saw the potential.

“Whitey’s story embodies the loyalty, friendship, and sacrifice of Canadians at war,” she says. “Dogs have a remarkable ability to help children (and adults!) connect with and make sense of complex moments in history.”

The book came together quickly.

“Gord Crossley and I were sitting after attending the Organization of Military Museums of Canada conference, and I mentioned my love of mascot dog stories,” she recalls. “Gord told me the story of Whitey, the Garry’s mascot during the Second World War, and his story just captured my heart.”

That conversation sparked renewed interest in Whitey’s legacy.

“We had a basic version from the FGH wartime history Vanguard, published in 1945,” says Gord Crossley, 17 Wing Heritage Officer and curator at The Fort Garry Horse Museum and Archives.

“It was later incorporated into the FGH history Facta Non Verba, published in 2012. Further research into the regiment’s war diary annexes, held at the Library and Archives of Canada, turned up an article written for Canada Weekly magazine.”

As a former third grade teacher and now a military historian, Lonie immediately saw the potential.

“Whitey’s story embodies the loyalty, friendship, and sacrifice of Canadians at war,” she says. “Dogs have a remarkable ability to help children (and adults!) connect with and make sense of complex moments in history.”

The book came together quickly.

 “Gord emailed me a detailed collection of primary sources, which I reviewed,” Lonie says. “I mapped out Whitey’s key moments, placed him within the broader context of the Second World War and the movements of the Fort Garry Horse Regiment, and then let my imagination take over.”

She drew inspiration from her own collie, imagining how he might have experienced Whitey’s journey. The result is a story rich in personality and historical detail.

“Whitey’s story had already been well-documented,” she notes. “He appeared in newspapers of the time, can be spotted in film footage and photographs, and was even covered in Canada Weekly magazine.”

Once the manuscript was complete, Lonie reached out to illustrator Renée Hansen.

“She loved the story and created two sample pages with her beautiful watercolour art,” Lonie says. “Heritage House accepted it almost immediately. They were a perfect match.”

The book is intended for children ages 6 to 9, but Lonie believes it speaks to all ages.

“Children deserve stories that are true, that honor the past, and that help them understand the world with empathy,” she says.

Lonie’s research was meticulous. She relied on digitized archives from the Fort Garry Horse Regiment Museum, supplemented by British and Canadian newspaper articles. Her background in military history—she holds a Master’s degree from the University of Regina—helped her weave Whitey’s tale into the broader narrative of WWII.

Whitey’s passing was recorded in The Rally newspaper on May 1, 1944: “One of the oldest members of the Fort Garrys has gone to the Great Beyond. The entire regiment grieves his passing. Gone is a pal. Gone is a gallant dog. Whitey has departed.” Just one month later, the regiment participated in D-Day.

Using coordinates from the War Diary, Lonie located Whitey’s burial site.

“The estate manager walked out to the spot and took a picture for me, but sadly, nothing is left,” she says. “The area is mostly marsh now, and any grave that was once there would have succumbed to a tidal flow.”

Still, Whitey’s memory endures.

“Every time we think about Whitey, we remember that Canadian soldiers, some with two feet and others with four, gave their lives to protect us so we can live in peace,” Lonie says.

As Canada continues to honor its veterans and preserve its wartime history, stories like Whitey’s Journey ensure that the legacy of service—and the love that sustained it—will never be forgotten.

Lonie is working with The Fort Garry Horse to arrange a book launch in Winnipeg in the near future.innipeg dans un avenir proche.