ANIMAL VALOUR (2018)

CHIPS (2018)

Chips was a husky crossbreed who was honoured with the Dickin Medal for his bravery and devotion to duty during the US Army’s invasion of Sicily on 10^th July 1943. Chips was donated to the newly formed Dogs for Defence Unit and of the 40,000 dogs that were donated only 10,000 made the cut, post training.

Chips and his handler Private Rowell sailed to Morocco, seeing action behind enemy lines. They were also intrusted to patrol the Casablanca Conference where British PM Winston Churchill and US President Franklin D Roosevelt met to discuss Allied Forces strategy. Chips and Private Rowell were then deployed in Sicily, their Platoon was to assist in the invasion of the islands. On 10^th July 1943, as Chips lead his Platoon ashore under a cover of darkness the soldiers were attacked on the beach by an enemy machine gun team, hidden in a nearby hut. As the Platoon dived for cover, Chips broke free and ran straight for the hut, despite a barrage of gunfire.

Private Rowell described what happened next. There was an awful lot of noise and then the firing stopped. Then I saw one soldier come out the door with Chips at his throat. I called him off before he could kill the man. Three other enemy soldiers followed, hands above their head. Chips sustained a scalp wound and powder burns that required treatment. The hut turned out to be a machine gun nest, it later transpired that Chips had grabbed the machine gun by its barrel and pulled it off its mount. His actions had undoubtedly saved the lives of the men in his Platoon. Chips was to receive his Posthumously awarded Dickin Medal on 15^th January 2018, presented by the PDSA at the Churchill War Rooms, London. Chips became the 70^th recipient of the Dickin Medal.

MALI  (2017)

Mali is a dog that was awarded the Dickin Medal on the 17^th November 2017. Mali is a Belgian Malinois that worked with the Special Boat Service in Afghanistan in 2012. During an 8 – hour assault against a Taliban position in a multi storey building, the dog indicated the locations of enemy combatants, despite being injured three times by grenade explosions. Mali had injuries to his chest, legs, ear and the loss of a tooth yet he carried on.

Director General of the PDSA, Jan McLoughlin said, “Mali has displayed a truly awesome ability and determination to seek out explosives and insurgents during a key operation. To achieve this while exposed to close combat and such enemy attack makes him an incredibly worthy recipient of the PDSA Dickin Medal”. Eight-year-old Mali is the 69^th recipient of the medal, which was presented at a ceremony in London. It was the 100^th Birthday of the PDSA charity.

Since receiving emergency treatment for his injuries, Mali returned home from Afghanistan and has made a full recovery. Now retired from the front lines, he continues his work at the RAVC Defence Animal Centre training new dog handlers. Mali’s handler whose identity cannot be revealed for security reasons was also awarded a gallantry medal for his part in the operation.

RECKLESS  (2016)

The Award for Reckless was set against the backdrop of the Korean War, Staff Sergeant Reckless (1948 – 1968) was a mare of Mongolian horse breeding. She was purchased in 1952 for 250 Dollars from a Korean stable boy at the Seoul racetrack who needed the money to buy an artificial leg for his sister who had stepped on a land mine. Reckless was bought by the US Marine Corps and trained to be a pack horse. She was chestnut coloured with a blaze and three white stockings. She was believed to be 3 or 4 years old when she was purchased by the marines and stood only 14 hands high. She was quickly accepted as part of the unit and was allowed to roam freely throughout the camp, entering the Marines tents where she was allowed to sleep on a cold night. She was willing to eat almost anything including scrambled eggs, beer, Coca-Cola and once ate 30 Dollar worth of poker chips.

She served in numerous combat actions during the Korean War, carrying supplies and ammunition, and she was also used to evacuate the wounded. She learned to deliver supplies without the benefit of a handler. The highlight of her nine-month military career came in late March 1953 during the battle for Outpost Vegas. In a single day she made 51 solo trips to re-supply multiple frontline units. She was wounded in combat twice and given the rank of corporal in 1953, and then another battlefield promotion to sergeant in 1954, several months after the war had ended. Reckless would also win many other honours including two purple hearts.

She was retired and brought to the United States after the war where she made appearances on TV. Reckless was promoted once again to the rank of staff sergeant in 1959 giving birth to 4 foals in America. After a long and eventful life Reckless sadly died in May 1968. A plaque and photo were dedicated in her honour at the Marine Corps base camp at Pendleton stables and a statue of her was dedicated on July 26^th 2013 at the marine Corps National Museum in Quantico, Virginia. How-ever that was not the end of the story, Reckless was posthumously awarded the Dickin Medal (The Animal’s Victoria Cross) on the 27^th July 2016.

FINN  (2018)

A hero police dog, who almost died from stab wounds while trying to stop an armed suspect is to be awarded a PDSA Gold Medal. The courageous dog will be awarded the animal’s equivalent to the prestigious George Cross on Sunday the 6^th May. Taking place at the PDSA Pet-life 2018 festival at Cheltenham Racecourse, the first ever public presentation of such an award.

Finn and his handler PC Wardell, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Dog Unit, were called to an address in 2016 with the instruction to chase a suspect evading an arrest. During the pursuit, PC Wardell released Finn with a command to detain the suspect. The suspect attempted to jump over a fence but Finn kept pace and was able to take hold of his leg, foiling his escape.

PC Wardell explains: I joined Finn, grabbing his collar and straddling his back to give him support as he held the suspect. In a split second I saw the man lunge at Finn’s side with a weapon. As he pulled away, I saw a 10 inch blade covered in Finn’s blood. The man then lunged at me with the blade but Finn, despite being seriously hurt, grabbed hold of the suspect and stopped him from landing a fatal blow. My hand was cut in the struggle and Finn’s head was sliced open. Despite suffering two serious stab wounds, Finn’s grip on the suspect remained - pulling at the suspects leg to stop him jumping over the fence. Finn’s constant grip enabled PC Wardell to wrestle the assailant to the ground, where he eventually dropped the weapon. Other officers joined the team to assist and Finn was rushed to the nearest vet for life saving treatment.

PC Wardell also needed treatment for a stab wound he sustained in his hand. Following the attack, Finn made a miraculous recovery despite serious stab wounds and a punctured lung. He was back on active duty just 11 weeks later, although 8- year old Finn is now retired.

PDSA’s Director General Jan McLoughlin said: Finn displayed an outstanding devotion that night, both to his duties and to his handler. For his actions, Finn is an extremely worthy recipient of the PDSA Gold Medal.

****** Finn’s story captured the hearts of the nation and inspired a campaign to change the law around the protection for service animals. At present an attack on a police dog is considered no greater a crime that an attack on a police car!  ******