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The Animal Victoria Cross: The Dickin Medal
Sixty-three animals have won the Dickin Medal, the highest award for animal bravery. Their inspiring stories are told, for the first time in one book, The Animal Victoria Cross. Four types of animal have been honored, dogs, horses, pigeons and one cat. Simon, the feline, is credited with saving an entire ships crew. Canine breeds include Alsatians, Terriers, Collies and Spaniels. The majority of awards were related to war service and the conflicts include the Second World War, Korea, Iraq, Yugoslavia and Afghanistan. The Al-Qaeda attack on the Twin Towers as well as the Blitz saw great courage exhibited by animals such as Rip, the dog who saved many lives. In addition to British animals, there are American, Canadian, Australian and Egyptian winners of this unique award. Animal lovers everywhere will treasure this delightful book. It is ideal to dip into or read from cover to cover.
- GenresNonfiction
233 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 30, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 24, 2020
The Victorian Cross is the highest level British award for valor in the "presence of the enemy". The Dickin Medal has been called the animal world's version of the Victorian Cross and is awarded to those animals - dogs, birds, horses and even a cat - that has shown "outstanding loyalty, bravery and courage."
Hawthorne has collected the tales of 63 of the medal winners - the book was published in 2012 - in short, easy to read bites. Most are from the World War II time period but there are search and rescue dogs that worked the World Trade Center site and that of other explosions, mine collapses, and protecting their handlers on the battle field. Many from WWII include messenger pigeons - they were apparently taken on ships and planes as well as with the forces on D-Day in order to get vital information immediately in case of radio malfunction or operator injury.
Of course, Hawthorne also goes into who Dickin is - namely Maria Dickin - who originally set about visiting the sick and needy of London. While travelling the streets, she would see dogs and cats with frightful injuries, fighting over the smallest scraps of food, knowing that their owners - if they had any - could not afford the cost of a vet and so was condemning many to a slow agonizing death. So she set up the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals in 1917 which provided free healthcare for animals. Quickly overwhelmed with clients, she opened mobile surgeries as well as additional dispensaries across England. With the outbreak of World War II, the War Department put out a request for animals capable of helping the war effort. Many owners - already struggling to feed themselves on rationing conditions - felt that providing their pets would at least be fed. So they served.
And after hearing of the bravery and loyalty of these animals - some missions so secret they would never be known - Maria Dickin established the Dickin Medal, which actually says "For Gallantry - We Also Serve".
We know Humane Society, the SPCA and RSPCA but I had never heard of the PDSA which still exists after 103 years. It's a quick easy book to read - most chapters are a page or two with only a few longer - so it's one that can be picked up and set down as time allows.
2020-141
Hawthorne has collected the tales of 63 of the medal winners - the book was published in 2012 - in short, easy to read bites. Most are from the World War II time period but there are search and rescue dogs that worked the World Trade Center site and that of other explosions, mine collapses, and protecting their handlers on the battle field. Many from WWII include messenger pigeons - they were apparently taken on ships and planes as well as with the forces on D-Day in order to get vital information immediately in case of radio malfunction or operator injury.
Of course, Hawthorne also goes into who Dickin is - namely Maria Dickin - who originally set about visiting the sick and needy of London. While travelling the streets, she would see dogs and cats with frightful injuries, fighting over the smallest scraps of food, knowing that their owners - if they had any - could not afford the cost of a vet and so was condemning many to a slow agonizing death. So she set up the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals in 1917 which provided free healthcare for animals. Quickly overwhelmed with clients, she opened mobile surgeries as well as additional dispensaries across England. With the outbreak of World War II, the War Department put out a request for animals capable of helping the war effort. Many owners - already struggling to feed themselves on rationing conditions - felt that providing their pets would at least be fed. So they served.
And after hearing of the bravery and loyalty of these animals - some missions so secret they would never be known - Maria Dickin established the Dickin Medal, which actually says "For Gallantry - We Also Serve".
We know Humane Society, the SPCA and RSPCA but I had never heard of the PDSA which still exists after 103 years. It's a quick easy book to read - most chapters are a page or two with only a few longer - so it's one that can be picked up and set down as time allows.
2020-141
February 16, 2020
Brilliant book. Animals contribution to war and rescue work is often over looked. This book goes some way to addressing this.
The DM inscription says it all “For Valour, we also serve”.
A collection of short extracts in the DM recipients and how they got awarded them. Easy to read and packed full of the exploits of these Pigeons, Horses and Dogs serving their country alongside men and women of the armed and emergency services. Some are well known others not as much. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.
The DM inscription says it all “For Valour, we also serve”.
A collection of short extracts in the DM recipients and how they got awarded them. Easy to read and packed full of the exploits of these Pigeons, Horses and Dogs serving their country alongside men and women of the armed and emergency services. Some are well known others not as much. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.
June 6, 2018
Brilliant Read
Amazing book. One that I couldn't put down. Brave and tenacious were the animals awarded the Dickin Medal. Lived in Ilford most of my formative years and never knew the special garden of remembrance at the PDSA existed.
Well worth a read.
Amazing book. One that I couldn't put down. Brave and tenacious were the animals awarded the Dickin Medal. Lived in Ilford most of my formative years and never knew the special garden of remembrance at the PDSA existed.
Well worth a read.
December 4, 2023
Brief histories of all the animals that have won the Dickins Medal, usually a page or two each. This gives you a quick overview. However, I kept wishing I could get more of the story so that I could feel involved in the stories.
February 21, 2017
this intriguing book tells the stories of the animals who have wo tne Dickin medal - created by the PDSA and awarded for bravery. there are many fascinating stories in this book of clever and brave animals. there are many dogs, some horses, and one cat. Above all though it is the humble pigeon who predominates among the winners of the medal. the carrier pigeon played a very important role in wartime, and many pigeons showed themselves to be incredibly resourceful and hardy, getting home in terrible weather conditions and surviving being shot at, wounded, even hawk attacks. After reading the amazing stories in this book, you will never feel the same about pigeons again. They are heroic birds.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews