This is the plaster “Noble Order of Jemima,” designed based on the mascot of the 11th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own), which Private P. Tudor received at a veterans’ gathering after the First World War. This global conflict, which began in AD 1914 and involved nearly 65 million people, not only impacted humans but also affected countless creatures such as horses, dogs, pigeons, and cats. Jemima, the cat adopted by the 11th Battalion on the battlefield of the Somme River, was one of those animals involved in the war.
The medal features a smiling Jemima with raised eyebrows, showing her fangs, surrounded by a background of wavy patterns. Above Jemima are two lines of text, with the top line being the abbreviation for “11th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own).” The next line, “O.C.A,” stands for the location of the veterans’ gathering at “Ye Olde Cock Tavern.” Below Jemima’s collar, the medal is engraved with the name “Noble Order of Jemima,” chosen by veterans for this medal. This Jemima medal, with a diameter of 10.9 cm, has two suspensions on the upper edge to connect with a woven green and black chord.
The intense trench warfare of the First World War not only exposed soldiers to the threat of machine gun fire as they crossed the no-man’s land but also subjected them to the harsh conditions within the trenches. The unsanitary environment allowed rodents, carriers of diseases, to thrive freely. Cats thus became important companions and sources of comfort for soldiers in the trenches.
According to the account of a granddaughter of one of the officers from the 11th Battalion, Billy William, in AD 1916, her grandfather and his comrades discovered a wet kitten on the battlefield of the Somme River. This kitten, named Jemima, joined the battalion and accompanied them to various locations until the end of the war, helping the troops eliminate many rats and pests along the way.
After returning home, since AD 1927 these veterans would gather annually at the “Ye Olde Cock Tavern” in London, a historic pub located on Fleet Street that once hosted the renowned author Charles Dickens, to hold commemorative meetings. Each veteran was presented with a Noble Order of Jemima medal, and they even composed a song dedicated to Jemima, their furry companion who had accompanied them through the tumultuous years of war.