Simon
Sadie, an eight-year-old Labrador who was trained in Leicestershire, has been awarded a Dickin Medal for her work in Afghanistan in November 2005.
Now, I'd heard of the Dickin Medal before, having watched the animated movie Valiant (what an educational tool!) and remembered that one of the current 62 awards was given to a cat.
A cat?
Yes, a cat. and I was like 'what? no self respecting cat would do anything in a war....they might defend their territory, if agressive enough like this little guy...but a war? come on! Someones yanking our chain.
So I went an looked it up.
1949: Simon - the ship's cat on HMS Amethyst during the Yangtze Incident, noted for surviving injuries from a cannon shell, raising morale and killing off a rat infestation during the incident. Rank raised to Able Seaman and awarded campaign medal
all cat lovers should read the links.
Now, I'd heard of the Dickin Medal before, having watched the animated movie Valiant (what an educational tool!) and remembered that one of the current 62 awards was given to a cat.
A cat?
Yes, a cat. and I was like 'what? no self respecting cat would do anything in a war....they might defend their territory, if agressive enough like this little guy...but a war? come on! Someones yanking our chain.
So I went an looked it up.
1949: Simon - the ship's cat on HMS Amethyst during the Yangtze Incident, noted for surviving injuries from a cannon shell, raising morale and killing off a rat infestation during the incident. Rank raised to Able Seaman and awarded campaign medal
all cat lovers should read the links.