Jackie the Baboon: The Only Primate to Serve in WWI

During World War I, a Chacma baboon named Jackie became the only non-human primate to officially serve in the military, enlisting as a Private in the 3rd South African Infantry Brigade. This wasn't just ceremonial—Jackie saw real combat, performed military duties, and was promoted for valor.

From Pet to Private

Jackie's owner, Albert Marr, found the young baboon on his family farm near Pretoria in 1913. When Marr was mobilized on August 25, 1915, he couldn't bear to leave his companion behind. He approached his commanding officers with an unusual request: could his baboon join the regiment?

Surprisingly, they said yes. Jackie was officially enlisted as a Private, complete with a custom-made uniform fitted with buttons, a cap, and regimental badges. He was even trained to salute superior officers—a trick that became a morale booster for the troops.

A Soldier's Duties

Jackie wasn't just a mascot riding on morale. His heightened senses made him invaluable during night watch. Sentries learned to watch Jackie closely—his superior hearing and smell meant he could detect enemy movement long before any human soldier. When Jackie became agitated or alert, troops knew an attack might be imminent.

He participated in battles across the Middle Eastern theater, accompanying the 1st South African Infantry Brigade through Egypt and what is now the Gaza Strip.

Wounded in Action

War took its toll on Jackie just as it did on his human comrades. He suffered multiple injuries from shrapnel, with fragments lodged in his leg and arm. During one particularly fierce engagement, an artillery shell exploded nearby, blowing off his right leg entirely.

Rather than being discharged, Jackie recovered from his injuries and continued serving. For his bravery and sacrifice, he was awarded a medal of valor and promoted from Private to Corporal—the only baboon in history to achieve military rank.

After the War

When the war ended, Corporal Jackie returned to South Africa, where he was awarded the Pretoria Citizens Service Medal. Tragically, his post-war life was short-lived. Just one year after returning home, Jackie died in a house fire in 1921.

Today, Jackie's story stands as one of the most unusual military tales from WWI—a testament to the bond between soldiers and the unexpected heroes who served alongside them in the trenches.