Climbing above The Cedars, a picture from "Dog in the Snow: The Story of the Middle East Ski School". Photo / Courtesy of Gillian Magnabosco
Climbing above The Cedars, a picture from "Dog in the Snow: The Story of the Middle East Ski School". Photo / Courtesy of Gillian Magnabosco
A book about the little-known soldiers on skis during World War II, including one young skier Pat Koorey from Whanganui, has been described as a "labour of love and a fitting tribute".
The recently released book, titled Dog in the Snow, by James Riddell, is essentially a storyabout a man and his dog during World War II.
Rex is a large Alsatian who roams free in the mountains of Lebanon and adopts a British soldier sent there to set up a ski school.
This is a revised edition of a book first published in 1957 by Riddell, a leading figure in establishing the sport of skiing in Britain in the 1930s.
In 1941 the vagaries of war meant Riddell was appointed to Captain in the city of Homs in Western Syria.
All who love animals, and particularly those who can understand the fascination of skiing, will delight in this book based in the mountains of Lebanon
Captain Pat Koorey demonstrates firing in the prone position while wearing skis in a picture from "Dog in the Snow: The Story of the Middle East Ski School". Photo / Courtesy of The Koore
A chance conversation at dinner at an Australian Field Hospital saw him seconded to the Australian Imperial Forces in the rank of Major as chief instructor to the Australian Corps Ski School.
The school led to his first meeting with dog Rex (named by Riddell), who adopted Riddell as well as all the school instructors and students and supervised with a "strong canine discipline".
Then came the Middle East Ski School in 1942-1943, covering all aspects of mountain warfare, including both ski and rock climbing. It became the Mountaineer Wing in 1943 until its closure in 1944.
This is the story of the development of ski warfare training that became an institution. There were 2000 students at a time and 100 instructors.
Dr Christopher Pugsley, a military historian, has described the book as being about an ''almost unknown wartime activity''.
"All who love animals, and particularly those who can understand the fascination of skiing, will delight in this book based in the mountains of Lebanon.''
Several New Zealanders were at the ski school for varying periods, including a Whanganui man, Pat Koorey, Pugsley said.
Pat and his family were well known in the city, where he owned a menswear shop in Victoria Ave, which also stocked ski equipment.
"Members of The Wanganui Ski Club will remember him as a founding member and stalwart of the club.''
• Dog in the Snow is published by John Douglas Publishing, Waikanae.
