Family histories, famous Newfoundland dog remembered
City of St. John’s opens new Sable Chief Dog Park
Lucas Flynn of St. John’s was still at Roncalli Elementary School when he won a contest to name the city’s newest dog park. It was an act of remembrance.
Lucas was born on Remembrance Day, but had been gathering information for a heritage fair project on his great-greatgreat-uncle, Pte. William Whittle, who had served with the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.
The regiment had a Newfoundland dog, Sable Chief, who was a mascot for the training reserve — marching with the regimental band and visiting wounded troops. The dog’s image had stuck with Lucas, who suggested the new community gathering spot in Airport Heights be named the Sable Chief Dog Park.
But when asked about the park naming, he mentioned his school project and Whittle, whose story hadn’t previously been well known within his family. Whittle was a 17-yearold from Fox Cove who claimed to be a 21-year-old fisherman in order to enlist as a member of the regiment in June 1916. According to records available through The Rooms, he died
that October of illness. He was buried in northern France.
Notice of his death was sent to an uncle, given he was predeceased by his parents.
“He had no one to carry on
his legacy. Everyone else was a more distant relative,” Flynn’s father told The Telegram. “It was like Lucas was destined to tell us that story.”
The Sable Chief Dog Park
opening was also attended by four generations of Frasers, descendants of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment’s Pte. Hazen Fraser. He was young, just 17, when he went to war.
His age was uncovered, and he was sent to London, where he was assigned to become Sable Chief’s handler. There are photos of the pair in the years that followed at ceremonial events, including at Wandsworth Hospital where many soldiers began rehabilitation (virtualmuseum.ca).
In 1919, Sable Chief was accidentally run over and killed. The dog’s remains were sent to a taxidermist for preservation and ultimately were sent back to Newfoundland. The dog is now in The Rooms in St. John’s, at the entrance to the Royal Newfoundland Regiment gallery.
Fraser survived to return to Newfoundland.
“I know my dad would be very, very overwhelmed and proud for what you’ve done here in Airport Heights,” Barry Fraser said Tuesday, near a sign with a picture of the soldier and honoured dog.
The Sable Chief Dog Park was officially opened by Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O’leary, who had pressed for a dog park in the neighbourhood under the previous city council. New ward Coun. Deanne Stapleton also took part in the official ribbon cutting.