Figure 1.-- The Dickin Medal was awarded to a ships cat named Simon for gallent action in the Yanze River Incident in 1949. Simon was a gallant rat catcher despite serious injuries during the time the "HMS Amethyst" was pinned down by Communist Chinese artillerry and its food supply endangered. Simon is buried in the PDSA Ilford cemetary. It is a place were children visit to see the animal graves. Here is a photograph taken in 1950 showing two children looking adter Simon's grave.

There is a pet cemetary in Ilford, Essex. Here heroic animals are buried alongside ordinary pets that have died and been buried there. It is looked after by the People's Dispensory of Sick Animals (PDSA). It is this organisation which issue the animal V C called the Dickin Medal. The Medal was the idea Maria Dickin, director of PDSA who noted the heroics of animals during World War II. The medal was instituted during the War (1943). Quite a number of amimals earned the medal during World War II. The awards have gone to heroic animals in time of war or extreme danger. Only about 60 animals have been honored with the Dickin Medal. The award is for extraordinary heroism. The award began during World War II and was continued after the War. The amimals so honored have served in both a civil and military capacity. Surprisingly, only about 20 have gone to dogs.

Created: 7:23 AM 3/8/2010
Last updated: 7:23 AM 3/8/2010