Dogs

Kuga – Belgian Malinois

Special Air Service Regiment – Australian Army: 26 October 2018

'For unstinting bravery and life-saving devotion to his handler and his unit, while on patrol with Operation Slipper in Afghanistan, 2011.'

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Chips – Husky crossbreed

US Army: 15 January 2018



‘For bravery and devotion to duty during the US Army’s invasion of Sicily on 10 July 1943.’



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Mali – Belgian Malinois

Royal Army Veterinary Corps: 17 November 2017

‘For tireless bravery and devotion to duty during an operation in Afghanistan with the British Military in 2012.’

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Lucca - German Shepherd

US Marine Corps: 5 April 2016

“For tireless service to the military communities of the United States of America and coalition partners from 2006 to 2012”

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Diesel – Belgian Malinois

Date of Award: awarded posthumously on 28 December 2015

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Sasha – Labrador

Royal Army Veterinary Corps, Arms and Explosives Search dog

Date of Award: awarded posthumously on 21 May 2014

“For outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty while assigned to 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, in Afghanistan 2008.”

Theo – Springer Spaniel

Royal Army Veterinary Corps, Arms and Explosives Search dog

Date of Award: awarded posthumously on 25 October 2012

“For outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty while deployed with 104 Military Working Dog (MWD) Squadron during conflict in Afghanistan September 2010 to March 2011.”

Treo – Labrador

Royal Army Veterinary Corps, Arms and Explosives Search dog

Date of Award: 24 February 2010

“On 15 August 2008, while acting as forward protection for 8 Platoon, The Royal Irish Regiment, Treo located a ‘daisy chain’ IED – an improvised explosive device designed to trigger a series of bombs – on a roadside where soldiers were about to pass. It was subsequently confirmed that the device uncovered was new to the area and would have inflicted significant casualties. On 3 and 4 September 2008 Treo’s actions were reported as saving 7 Platoon from guaranteed casualties, again as the result of an IED. Without doubt, Treo’s actions and devotion to his duties, while in the throes of conflict, saved many lives.”

Sadie – Labrador

RAVC arms and explosive search dog – Kabul, Afghanistan in November 2005

Date of Award: 6 February 2007

“For outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty while assigned to the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry during conflict in Afghanistan in 2005. On 14 November 2005 military personnel serving with NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in Kabul were involved in two separate attacks. Sadie and Lance Corporal Yardley were deployed to search for secondary explosive devices. Sadie gave a positive indication near a concrete blast wall and multinational personnel were moved to a safe distance. Despite the obvious danger Sadie and Lance Corporal Yardley completed their search. At the site of Sadie’s indication, bomb disposal operators later made safe an explosive device. The bomb was designed to inflict maximum injury. Sadie’s actions undoubtedly saved the lives of many civilians and soldiers.”

Lucky – German Shepherd

RAF number 3610 AD: RAF Police anti-terrorist tracker dog – from 1949 to 1952 during the Malaya Campaign

Date of Award: 6 February 2007

“For the outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty of the RAF Police anti-terrorist tracker dog team, comprising Bobbie, Jasper, Lassie and Lucky, while attached to the Civil Police and several British Army regiments including the Coldstream Guards, 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Guards and the Ghurkhas during the Malaya Campaign.Bobbie, Jasper, Lassie and Lucky displayed exceptional determination and life-saving skills during the Malaya Campaign. The dogs and their handlers were an exceptional team, capable of tracking and locating the enemy by scent despite unrelenting heat and an almost impregnable jungle. Sadly, three of the dogs lost their lives in the line of duty: only Lucky survived to the end of the conflict.”

Buster – Springer Spaniel

Royal Army Veterinary Corps

Date of Award: 9 December 2003

“For outstanding gallantry in March 2003 while assigned to the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment in Safwan, Southern Iraq. Arms and explosives search dog Buster located an arsenal of weapons and explosives hidden behind a false wall in a property linked with an extremist group. Buster is considered responsible for saving the lives of service personnel and civilians. Following the find, all attacks ceased and shortly afterwards and troops replaced their steel helmets with berets.”

Sam – German Shepherd

Royal Army Veterinary Corps

Date of Award: 14 January 2003

“For outstanding gallantry in April 1998 while assigned to the Royal Canadian Regiment in Drvar during the conflict in Bosnia-Hertzegovina. On two documented occasions Sam displayed great courage and devotion to duty. On 18 April Sam successfully brought down an armed man threatening the lives of civilians and Service personnel. On 24 April, while guarding a compound harbouring Serbian refugees, Sam’s determined approach held off rioters until reinforcements arrived. This dog’s true valour saved the lives of many servicemen and civilians during this time of human conflict.”

Salty and Roselle – Labrador Guide dogs

Date of Award: 5 March 2002

“For remaining loyally at the side of their blind owners, courageously leading them down more than 70 floors of the World Trade Center and to a place of safety following the terrorist attack on New York on 11 September 2001.”

Appollo – German Shepherd

Date of Award: 5 March 2002

NYPD dog Appollo received the PDSA Dickin Medal on behalf of all the Search and Rescue dogs at Ground Zero and the Pentagon following the terrorist attack on 11 September 2001.

“For tireless courage in the service of humanity during the search and rescue operations in New York and Washington on and after 11 September 2001.” Faithful to words of command and undaunted by the task, the dogs’ work and unstinting devotion to duty stand as a testament to those lost or injured.”

Gander – Newfoundland

Date of Award: awarded posthumously on 27 October 2000

“For saving the lives of Canadian infantrymen during the Battle of Lye Mun on Hong Kong Island in December 1941. On three documented occasions Gander, the Newfoundland mascot of the Royal Rifles of Canada engaged the enemy as his regiment joined the Winnipeg Grenadiers, members of Battalion Headquarters ‘C’ Force and other Commonwealth troops in their courageous defence of the Island. Twice Gander’s attacks halted the enemy’s advance and protected groups of wounded soldiers. In a final act of bravery the war dog was killed in action gathering a grenade. Without Gander’s intervention many more lives would have been lost in the assault.”

Tich – Egyptian Mongrel

1st Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps

Date of Award: 1 July 1949

“For loyalty, courage and devotion to duty under hazardous conditions of war 1941 to 1945, while serving with the 1st King’s Rifle Corps in North Africa and Italy.”

Antis – Alsatian

Date of Award: 28 January 1949

“Owned by a Czech airman, this dog served with him in the French Air Force and RAF from 1940 to 1945, both in N. Africa and England. Returning to Czechoslovakia after the war, he substantially helped his master’s escape across the frontier when after the death of Jan Masaryk, he had to fly from the Communists.”

Brian – Alsatian

Date of Award: 29 March 1947

“This patrol dog was attached to a Parachute Battalion of the 13th Battalion Airborne Division. He landed in Normandy with them and, having done the requisite number of jumps, became a fully-qualified Paratrooper.”

Ricky – Welsh Collie

Date of Award: 29 March 1947

“This dog was engaged in cleaning the verges of the canal bank at Nederweent, Holland. He found all the mines but during the operation one of them exploded. Ricky was wounded in the head but remained calm and kept at work. Had he become excited he would have been a danger to the rest of the section working nearby.”

Punch and Judy – Boxer dog and bitch

Date of Awards: November 1946

“These dogs saved the lives of two British Officers in Israel by attacking an armed terrorist who was stealing upon them unawares and thus warning them of their danger. Punch sustained 4 bullet wounds and Judy a long graze down her back.”

Judy – Pedigree Pointer

Date of Award: May 1946

“For magnificent courage and endurance in Japanese prison camps, which helped to maintain morale among her fellow prisoners and also for saving many lives through her intelligence and watchfulness.”

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Peter – Collie

Date of Award: November 1945

“For locating victims trapped under blitzed buildings while serving with the MAP attached to Civil Defence of London.

Rip – Mongrel

Stray picked up by Civil Defence Squad at Poplar, London E14

Date of Award: 1945

“For locating many air-raid victims during the blitz of 1940.”

Sheila – Collie

Date of Award: 2 July 1945

“For assisting in the rescue of four American Airmen lost on the Cheviots in a blizzard after an air crash in December, 1944.”

Rex – Alsatian

MAP Civil Defence Rescue Dog

Date of Award: April 1945

“For outstanding good work in the location of casualties in burning buildings. Undaunted by smouldering debris, thick smoke, intense heat and jets of water from fire hoses, this dog displayed uncanny intelligence and outstanding determination in his efforts to follow up any scent which led him to a trapped casualty.”

Rifleman Khan – Alsatian

147. 6th Battalion Cameronians (SR)

Date of Award: 27 March 1945

“For rescuing L/Cpl. Muldoon from drowning under heavy shell fire at the assault of Walcheren, November 1944, while serving with the 6th Cameronians (SR).”

Thorn – Alsatian

MAP Serving with Civil Defence

Date of Award: 2 March 1945

“For locating air-raid casualties in spite of thick smoke in a burning building.”

Rob – Collie

War Dog No. 471/332

Special Air Service

Date of Award: 22 January 1945

“Took part in landings during North African Campaign with an Infantry unit and later served with a Special Air Unit in Italy as patrol and guard on small detachments lying-up in enemy territory. His presence with these parties saved many of them from discovery and subsequent capture or destruction. Rob made over 20 parachute descents.”

Beauty – Wire-Haired Terrier

PDSA Rescue Squad

Date of Award: 12 January 1945

“For being the pioneer dog in locating buried air-raid victims while serving with a PDSA Rescue Squad.”

Irma – Alsatian

MAP Serving with Civil Defence

Date of Award: 12 January 1945

“For being responsible for the rescue of persons trapped under blitzed buildings while serving with the Civil Defences of London.”

Jet – Alsatian

MAP Serving with Civil Defence

Date of Award: 12 January 1945

“For being responsible for the rescue of persons trapped under blitzed buildings while serving with the Civil Defence Services of London.”

Bob – Mongrel

6th Royal West Kent Regt.

Date of Award: 24 March 1944

“For constant devotion to duty with special mention of Patrol work at Green Hill, North Africa, while serving with the 6th Battalion Queens Own Royal West Kent Regt.”