The Animal Victoria Cross, page 3
For making the journey in adverse weather conditions, saving the life of an entire crew as well as a ship and its cargo, DD43T139 was awarded the Dickin Medal by the Reverend West in St Dunstans-in-the-East on 26 February 1947. The inscription on the medal reads:
Awarded to pigeon DD43T139 for gallantry carrying a message through a severe tropical storm thereby bringing help to an army boat with vital cargo, in danger of floundering.
Tyke (aka Georgie)
The Mediterranean, 1943
Born in Cairo, Tyke was trained by the Middle East Pigeon Service and is the second Egyptian winner of the Dickin Medal after Tich, the black mongrel dog. Recognised for his speed and determination, Tyke was selected to accompany an American Air Force bombing operation across North Africa in June 1943. The plane suffered mechanical problems and the pilot quickly realised they would not reach their Mediterranean base. Another problem was the weather. It was a foggy day with heavy rain and visibility was extremely poor, at most 2 miles. The pilot searched for a safe place to land. Faced with a crash-landing in such conditions and in enemy-held territory, the pilot decided to ditch the plane into the Mediterranean and hope for air rescue.
As the plane drifted lower and lower, the crew of four radioed an SOS message that was recognised by the airbase but the only information about location transmitted was ‘100 miles off the coast’. After a successful crash landing each man escaped into a dinghy. To make matters worse, Tyke was removed from his cage and released into the air without a complete message. It read:
Crew safe in dingy 10 west of
The men were in a perilous position. Tyke was faced with a flight of 100 miles in awful conditions whilst the crew struggled to keep afloat in stormy waters. An air search was started immediately but with visibility so poor the attempt was unsuccessful and the aircraft had to return to base. On arrival they learned that, despite the weather, Tyke had homed in with his incomplete message.
Calculating the average speed of Tyke’s flight and accounting for the weather, a search was begun and the entire crew was picked up safe and well from their dingy. Upon reaching the safety of base, the crew thanked Tyke for saving their lives and the pigeon received the Dickin Medal for courage after completing a flight under adverse conditions that led to the rescue of four airmen. The citation reads:
For delivering a message under exceptionally difficult conditions and so contributing to the rescue of an Air Crew, while serving with the RAF in the Mediterreanean in June, 1943.
Dutch Coast
Holland, 1942
On the night of 12/13 April 1942, a bombing sortie was making its way back to Britain after attacking strategic targets on mainland Europe. As was often the case, one bomber had been damaged by enemy action and began losing height rapidly whilst travelling over Holland. The pilot was forced to ditch the craft in the North Sea just off the Dutch coast, which was patrolled by German U-boats. At 6.00am the crew bailed out of the stricken plane and floated in a dinghy, pondering their options.
The crew could not hope to paddle their way home to the English coastline (the sea was rough with a strong wind) and they had no wish to give themselves up to the Germans in occupied Holland. Before evacuating the sinking bomber the crew managed to collect NURP 41.A.2164, a pigeon held in a cage. The crew swiftly released the bird with a message of their whereabouts at 06:20 hrs, hoping for rescue, and began to move the dinghy away from the Dutch coastline to avoid being spotted as the daylight became brighter.
NURP.41.A.2164 ‘homed’ in at 13:50 hrs the same day, having covered a distance of 288 miles in seven-and-a-half hours in adverse weather, carrying a message explaining the crash and the location of the crew. An aircraft was despatched immediately to rescue the men. This flight was the best performance by a pigeon in the National Pigeon Service at the time and the bird, newly named ‘Dutch Coast’ for the part played in rescuing the crew, was immediately awarded the Dickin Medal for such an outstanding flight.
Rifleman Khan
Holland, 1944
On 25 July 1947, the 6th Battalion of the Cameroonian Regiment paraded through Lanark in honour of a man and his dog who had been awarded the freedom of the Burgh. The war had ended two years previously and the regiment had served in almost every battle zone during the conflict. The regiment was founded in 1689 as the Scottish Rifles and had a long tradition. The man leading the parade was Corporal Muldoon and the dog became known as Rifleman Khan.
Khan was an Alsatian who belonged to a family named Railton living at Tolworth in Surrey and was a favourite playmate of Barry, their youngest son. As a puppy Khan had always displayed great intelligence and an eagerness to learn and was handed to the War Office when the request for dogs was announced and then sent to the War Dogs Training School. It was here that Khan excelled; he completed the course within six weeks, after which he was attached to the Cameroonians together with his handler, Corporal Muldoon. They were called into action on 2 November 1944 as part of an infantry mission to seize the Dutch island of Walcheren.
The Cameroonians were part of a twofold plan. The first part was to control the port of Flushing from which the entrenched Germans could see across the expanse of water, the Sloe Channel, leading into Antwerp. Nothing could sail down the river without being noticed. The second part of the mission was to take the island of Walcheren, which was only separated from the mainland by a canal.
The plan did not work. The heavy precision bombing from Lancasters did not soften up the German forces, despite approximately 1,200 tonnes of high explosives being dropped. The initial advances by infantry divisions had met with heavy losses and casualties. A new plan was devised but was inherently dangerous as it meant a direct infantry assault after crossing the Sloe Channel without the protection of any natural cover. The men would also have to tackle a mile-long stretch of mud-bank.
The night of 2 November proved dark and cold. At 03:30 hrs the men of the Cameroonians clambered aboard a flotilla of small boats in preparation for the assault. Rifleman Khan sat between Muldoon’s legs. As they entered the Sloe it was not long before the boats were spotted and a hail of shells greeted them, smashing into the water and covering the boats in spray. Machine gun fire rang out across the channel and the bullets raked the cold waves as the boats swayed from side to side trying to avoid the searchlights panning the sea. Each boat became a sitting duck, but the vessel carrying Rifleman Khan and Muldoon edged closer to the muddy bank. They were nearly there when a loud explosion was heard. They were thrown up into the air. Rifleman Khan crashed down into the cold water and he began paddling frantically to keep afloat, he managed to dodge the shells and machine gun fire to reach the muddy shore.
Instantly his paws sank into the heavy mud and around him Cameroonians were also waist deep. Their heavy weapons and equipment sent them plunging quickly into the mud. Rifleman Khan struggled through the ooze and sped up to higher ground. Below he saw the battle in full rage; men were drowning and others were struggling in the mud to reach the shore. Shells and bullets rained down on the Channel. However, Rifleman Khan was searching only for Muldoon. Over the noise of combat below – men screaming or shouting orders, bullets and shells being fired and boats creaking as they sank into the Sloe – Rifleman Khan heard the familiar shout of Corporal Muldoon.
On impact Muldoon had also been thrown into the cold, muddy water, but he could not swim and was stuck in the thick sediment, struggling to keep his head above water. Twice he had gulped muddy water whilst screaming for help but no-one could reach him. Rifleman Khan did not hesitate. Upon hearing the desperate cries of his handler he dashed back toward the Sloe and fought his way through the thick mud and water. As he approached, Muldoon’s head was barely above the waves washing onto the beach but Khan did not hesitate. He managed to reach his handler, clamped his teeth around the collar of his tunic and gave a sharp tug. Muldoon remained stuck in the mud. Rifleman Khan tugged again and slowly but surely managed to pull him free.
Muldoon held on as Rifleman Khan paddled toward the shore. Still enemy gunfire pierced the water around them but neither was hit and they collapsed exhausted onto the beach. Muldoon coughed up water and mud but Rifleman Khan, after shaking off the water from his coat, began pulling him to firmer ground. However, when they reached a bank Muldoon watched as his dog collapsed exhausted onto the ground gasping for air. Many men of the Cameroonians lost their lives in the assault, Muldoon would have been one of those were it not for the bravery of Rifleman Khan whose Dickin Medal recommendation came four months later.
The citation reads:
For rescuing Lance Corporal Muldoon from drowning under heavy shellfire at the assault of Walcheren, November 1944 while serving with the 6th Cameroonians.
Lance Corporal Muldoon and Rifleman Khan both survived the war, in 1946 the former returned to his work as a slater and plasterer in Strathaven, Scotland. He wrote many letters to the War Office requesting permission to keep Rifleman Khan permanently. Each request was rejected as the Railton family wanted their dog back. During the war years their son Barry had contracted infantile paralysis (polio) and wanted Rifleman Khan to return home.
In July 1947 Rifleman Khan was invited to the National Dog Tournament at Wembley Stadium, which prompted Mr Railton to write to Muldoon and ask if he would like to lead the family dog around the parade ring on the day. The former Lance Corporal jumped at the chance. When the two met Mr Railton was so touched by their affection for each other that he shook the hand of Muldoon and said, ‘He’s yours.’
Navy Blue
France, 1944
For delivering an important message from a raiding party on the west coast of France although injured, while serving with the RAF in June 1944
This RAF-trained pigeon had an excellent flying record for the Air/ Sea Rescue during the war and was given the name ‘Navy Blue’ as well as the code NPS.41.NS2862. As a fast and reliable bird Navy Blue was selected for a special mission accompanying a small reconnaissance party on the west coast of France in 1944. Landing via sea, the party would move inland to complete an observation mission and use Navy Blue to carry the information back to Plymouth, a distance of over 200 miles.
On 15 June 1944 Navy Blue was issued to the men, but due to bad weather in the Channel, the mission was delayed until the night of 17 June. The men landed after midnight on the morning of the 18th and carried out their objective. Navy Blue was released by the men, however she was almost immediately attacked by a predator and badly injured. Navy Blue did not give up and managed to continue flying, reaching her loft at Plymouth at 02:45 hrs on 19 June.
The message was of immense value to the Intelligence Branch. Owing to her determination to deliver the message, despite terrible injuries, Navy Blue was awarded the Dickin Medal. Thankfully this brave pigeon recovered from her injuries in time to accept the award in March 1945.
PART 2
THE HOME FRONT
Rex
London, 1945
Rex, an Alsatian, was one of fourteen dogs employed during the war to find people buried under their houses and other debris during the attacks on London. In January 1945, before his training was complete, he was thrust into action in Lambeth when a bombing raid destroyed a row of houses. Whilst being led through the debris over a track cleared through the rubble Rex began to show the signs indicating that someone was buried. Having not completed his training and digging on a path that had been followed before and was well worn, the rescue team moved Rex away from the path to another area of the bomb site.
However, the men saw Rex was clearly agitated when pulled away and began scratching violently at the soft earth. They joined in the digging and a matter of inches from the surface they discovered the earth was saturated with warm blood. Further excavations unearthed a collapsed wall, which also had blood on it, but upon removing the bricks one by one they could see nothing to indicate a trapped person. Rex had been rested whilst the bricks were removed, but he was soon brought back to the site and again began to dig away through earth and debris. The rescue team again joined in and together they discovered the corner of a mattress, which Rex began to tear at with his teeth. The rescue team frantically pulled bricks and mortar away to reveal two people, who, sadly, had already died from their injuries. They were still in their pyjamas underneath the bed clothes.
In March 1945 Rex, along with other rescue dogs, was sent to the site of a still-burning factory that had been wrecked by a Doodlebug. The greatest fear for dogs and many other animals is fire; Rex was initially instructed to scour the section of the wrecked building that was not burning. This he did and gave indication to the rescue team of several sites that were quickly cleared and rescues completed. Rex was then instructed to do the same in the part that was still burning but the signal to remove him was given after the remaining walls and floors began to tumble to the ground. Rex refused to leave the site and had to be dragged away by his collar in an agitated state. This bravery is remarkable, his only instinct was for those people buried or endangered and his actions were completely selfless.
Later in the day he was recalled to the factory as the fire had been brought under control and largely extinguished but fire crews continued to spray water across the debris as it was very hot and the dogs could not remain on the hot ground for long periods. Despite this heat, Rex made his way across the debris and gave an indication of five casualties within four minutes of returning to the site, a remarkable feat given the conditions. The bodies were recovered within fifteen minutes of Rex returning to the factory.
Two days later, Rex was brought back to the site after the ground had cooled and all the fires were extinguished. Rex arrived after working at another site and was suffering the effects of a gas leak. He was vomiting and clearly unwell. On arrival he overcame this and methodically examined the ground but was withdrawn by his handler under protest.
One of the final assignments Rex completed during the war involved a collapsed block of flats at Stepney where the damage was considerable. Upon being released he immediately ran to a partially remaining stairwell and was instantly removed by his handler, as this was not the site he had been brought to examine. Once he was unleashed on the debris of some flats where casualties were suspected, he did not even start work and simply ran off to the stairwell. The rescue team followed, began digging and found several bodies.
This remarkable animal continued to display the same determination and single-mindedness in peacetime. Rex was called into action in 1947 when the William Pit collapsed at Whitehaven, Cumbria. On 15 August 1947 at 17:40 hrs there was an explosion in the mine; firedamp propagated by coal dust, with ignition caused by shot firing in waste. The first bulletin with details of the accident was issued by Mr J.G. Helps, the National Coal Board Area General Manager, who was in charge of the rescue operation. It was thought that 121 men (a figure later altered to 117) were in the pit at the time. Of these, three men had come out of the pit and seven others were known to be safe. In total 104 lives were lost but six of the bodies had not been discovered. On 19 August Rex, along with another Dickin Medal winner Jet, were set a training exercise to see if they were up to the job of entering the mine. The dogs passed with flying colours, unearthing a man buried underneath debris. Both animals were sent into the William Pit mine to locate remains buried under loose and fallen rock, which was dangerous work. The remaining six bodies were recovered.
Rex is unique because he had not completed his training when he first went into action and displayed his talent and skill when others had not realised people were buried under so much debris. Each animal in wartime service had a report compiled on the quality of work. Rex’s report states:
There can be no question that he fully understands what is expected of him and he shows determination in exploration, which has so often produced results. On occasions his searches have led him through smouldering debris, thick smoke, and heat. He has ignored fire hoses spraying quantities of water around him, and has not hesitated to climb over loose and dangerous rubble in his efforts to follow up a scent, which may have led to a trapped casualty. He has very often given clear indications of the exact whereabouts of missing persons, thereby enabling rescue or search work to be carried out at those precise places, saving an enormous amount of time and labour in the clearing up of the incidents.
Upstart
London, 1944
At Hyde Park, during the Second World War, anti aircraft batteries were stationed to defend London against the Blitz. As the city came under attack night after night the guns would fire until they were red hot. Next to the batteries a stable was established for the horses of the London Police. Each time the guns fired the animals were fed to keep them calm. One horse in the stable, named Upstart, would win the Dickin Medal.
One night the stables received a direct hit, Upstart did not panic and stood calmly until he was rescued from the smoke and noise; no doubt expecting to be fed. Upstart was relocated to a new stable in the East End but shortly afterwards that site suffered damage as a bomb exploded nearby leaving the stables partially destroyed. Again Upstart did not panic and remained calm until he was led away, this helped the men as an excitable horse can alarm others in the stable and injure those performing the rescue.
Upstart and his rider, District Inspector Morley from Hackney, were out on patrol through the streets of Bethnall Green when a flying bomb exploded 70 yards away. Upstart remained unmoved and did not flinch when the force of the blast sent glass and brick flying through the air around him. Immediately Inspector Morley instructed Upstart to trot toward the bomb site and he responded. The pair were first on the scene and began controlling the traffic and people who gathered in the street. This was important as it allowed the rescue squads and ambulance a quick and easy passage to help the casualties. Without the contribution of Inspector Morley and Upstart more lives could have been lost.
