Sergeant Gander (14 page)

“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.”

Sadie
— Labrador
RAVC arms and explosive search dog — Kabul, Afghanistan in November 2005
Date of Award: February 6, 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.”

Pigeons

White Vision
Pigeon SURP.41.L.3089
Date of Award: December 2, 1943

“For delivering a message under exceptionally difficult conditions and so contributing to the rescue of an Air Crew while serving with the RAF in October 1943.”

Winkie
Pigeon NEHU.40.NS.1
Date of Award: December 2, 1943

“For delivering a message under exceptionally difficult conditions and so contributing to the rescue of an Air Crew while serving with the RAF in February, 1942.”

Tyke
(also known as George)
Pigeon Number 1263 MEPS 43
Date of Award: December 2, 1943

“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 Mediterranean in June, 1943.”

Beach Comber
Pigeon NPS.41.NS.4230
Date of Award: March 6, 1944

“For bringing the first news to this country of the landing at Dieppe, under hazardous conditions in September, 1942, while serving with the Canadian Army.”

Gustav
Pigeon NPS.42.31066

Date of Award: September 1, 1944

“For delivering the first message from the Normandy Beaches from a ship off the beach-head while serving with the RAF on 6 June 1944.”

Paddy
Pigeon NPS.43.9451

Date of Award: September 1, 1944

“For the best recorded time with a message from the Normandy Operations, while serving with the RAF in June, 1944.“

Kenley Lass
Pigeon NURP.36.JH.190
Date of Award: March 1945

“For being the first pigeon to be used with success for secret communications from an Agent in enemy-occupied France while serving with the NPS in October 1940.”

Navy Blue
Pigeon NPS.41.NS.2862
Date of Award: March 1945

“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.

Flying Dutchman
Pigeon NPS.42.NS.44802
Date of Award: March 1945

“For successfully delivering messages from Agents in Holland on three occasions. Missing on fourth mission, while serving with the RAF in 1944.”

Dutch Coast
Pigeon NURP.41. A.2164
Date of Award: March 1945

“For delivering an SOS from a ditched Air Crew close to the enemy coast 288 miles distance in 7½ hours, under unfavourable conditions, while serving with the RAF in April 1942.”

Commando
Pigeon NURP.38.EGU.242
Date of Award: March 1945

“For successfully delivering messages from Agents in Occupied France on three occasions: twice under exceptionally adverse conditions, while serving with the NPS in 1942.”

Royal Blue
Pigeon NURP.40.GVIS.453
Date of Award: March 1945

“For being the first pigeon in this war to deliver a message from a forced landed aircraft on the Continent while serving with the RAF in October, 1940.”

Ruhr Express
Pigeon NPS.43.29018

Date of Award: May 1945

“For carrying an important message from the Ruhr Pocket in excellent time, while serving with the RAF in April, 1945.”

William of Orange
Pigeon NPS.42.NS.15125
Date of Award: May 1945

“For delivering a message from the Arnheim Airborne Operation in record time for any single pigeon, while serving with the APS in September 1944.”

Scotch Lass
Pigeon NPS.42.21610

Date of Award: June 1945

“For bringing 38 microphotographs across the North Sea in good time although injured, while serving with the RAF in Holland in September 1944.”

Billy
Pigeon NU.41.HQ.4373
Date of Award: August 1945

“For delivering a message from a force-landed bomber, while in a state of complete collapse and under exceptionally bad weather conditions, while serving with the RAF in 1942.”

Broad Arrow
Pigeon 41.BA.2793
Date of Award: October 1945

“For bringing important messages three times from enemy occupied country, viz: May 1943, June 1943 and August 1943, while serving with the Special Service from the Continent.”

Pigeon NPS.42.NS.2780
Date of Award: October 1945

“For bringing important messages three times from enemy occupied country, viz: July 1942, August 1942 and April 1943, while serving with the Special Service from the Continent.”

Pigeon NPS.42.NS.7524
Date of Award: October 1945

“For bringing important messages three times from enemy-occupied country, viz: July 1942, May 1943 and July 1943, while serving with the Special Service from the continent.”

Maquis
Pigeon NPSNS.42.36392

Date of Award: October 1945

“For bringing important messages three times from enemy occupied country, viz: May 1943 (Amiens) February, 1944 (Combined Operations) and June, 1944 (French Maquis) while serving with the Special Service from the Continent.”

Mary
Pigeon NURP.40.WCE.249
Date of Award: November 1945

“For outstanding endurance on War Service in spite of wounds.”

Tommy
Pigeon NURP.41.DHZ56
Date of Award: February 1946

“For delivering a valuable message from Holland to Lancashire under difficult conditions, while serving with NPS in July 1942.”

All Alone
Pigeon NURP.39.SDS.39
Date of Award: February 1946

“For delivering an important message in one day over a distance of 400 miles, while serving with the NPS in August, 1943.”

Princess
Pigeon 42WD593
Date of Award: May 1946

“Sent on special mission to Crete, this pigeon returned to her loft (RAF Alexandria) having travelled about 500 miles mostly over sea, with most valuable information. One of the finest performances in the war record of the Pigeon Service.”

Mercury
Pigeon NURP.37.CEN.335
Date of Award: August 1946

“For carrying out a special task involving a flight of 480 miles from Northern Denmark while serving with the Special Section Army Pigeon Service in July 1942.”

Mary of Exeter.

Pigeon NURP.38.BPC.6.

Date of Award: August 1946

“For three outstanding flights from France while serving with the Special Section, Army Pigeon Service, 11 July 1941, 9 September 1941, and 29 November 1941.”

GI Joe
Pigeon USA43SC6390
Date of Award: August 1946

“This bird is credited with making the most outstanding flight by a USA Army Pigeon in World War II. Making the 20 mile flight from British 10th Army HQ, in the same number of minutes, it brought a message which arrived just in time to save the lives of at least 100 Allied soldiers from being bombed by their own planes.”

Duke of Normandy
Pigeon NURP.41.SBC.219
Date of Award: January 8, 1947

“For being the first bird to arrive with a message from Paratroops of 21st Army Group behind enemy lines on D Day 6 June, 1944, while serving with APS.”

Pigeon NURP.43.CC.1418
Date of Award: January 8, 1947

“For the fastest flight with message from 6th Airborne Div. Normandy, 7 June, 1944, while serving with APS.”

Pigeon DD.43.T.139 (Australian Army Signal Corps)
Date of award: February 1947

“During a heavy tropical storm this bird was released from Army Boat 1402 which had foundered on Wadou Beach in the Huon Gulf. Homing 40 miles to Madang it brought a message which enabled a rescue ship to be sent in time to salvage the craft and its valuable cargo of stores and ammunition.”

Pigeon DD.43.Q.879 (Australian Army Signal Corps)
Date of award: February 1947

“During an attack by Japanese on a US Marine patrol on Manus Island, pigeons were released to warn headquarters of an impending enemy counter-attack. Two were shot down but DD43 despite heavy fire directed at it reached HQ with the result that enemy concentrations were bombed and the patrol extricated.”

Cologne
Pigeon NURP39.NPS.144
Date of Award: unknown

“For homing from a crashed aircraft over Cologne although seriously wounded, while serving with the RAF in 1943.”

Other Animals

Olga —
Police Horse
Date of Award: April 11, 1947

“On duty when a flying bomb demolished four houses in Tooting and a plate-glass window crashed immediately in front of her. Olga, after bolting for 100 yards, returned to the scene of the incident and remained on duty with her rider, controlling traffic and assisting rescue organizations.”

Upstart
— Police Horse
Date of Award: 11 April 1947

Simon's grave.

“While on patrol duty in Bethnal Green a flying bomb exploded within 75 yards, showering both horse and rider with broken glass and debris. Upstart was completely unperturbed and remained quietly on duty with his rider controlling traffic, etc., until the incident had been dealt with.”

Regal
— Police Horse
Date of Award: April 11, 1947

“Was twice in burning stables caused by explosive incendiaries at Muswell Hill. Although receiving minor injuries, being covered by debris and close to the flames, this horse showed no signs of panic.”

Simon
— Cat
Date of Award: awarded posthumously 1949
“Served on HMS
Amethyst
during the Yangtze Incident, disposing of many rats

though wounded by shell blast. Throughout the incident his behaviour was of the highest order, although the blast was capable of making a hole over a foot in diameter in a steel plate.”

Appendix B
List of “C” Force Royal Rifles

“C” Force — 1st Battalion of the Royal Rifles of Canada

NOTE: The information below is taken from the official DND Casualty Lists given to the General Public on 26 December 1941, following the Capture of Hong Kong. Some of the information, such as the individual's rank, may have changed while they were overseas.

Lieutenant Colonel:

Home, William James
Btn HQ
Quebec City, QC

Major:

Bishop, Wells Arnold
C Coy
Bury, QC

Macaulay, Malcom Thomas
  Gordon
HQ Coy
Bury, QC

Parker, Maurice Albert
D Coy
Sherbrooke, QC

Price, John Herbert
Btn HQ
Quebec City, QC

Young, Charles Alexander
A Coy
Quebec City, QC

Captain:

Atkinson, Frederick Temple
Btn HQ
Toronto, ON

Clarke, William Frank
HQ Coy
Quebec City, QC

Denison, Everette Ernest
B Coy
Danville, QC

Gavey, Joseph Charles
C Coy
Quebec City, QC

Hurd, Edmund Lionel
Btn HQ
Sherbrooke, QC

Leboutillier, William Percy Cecil
A Coy
Ottawa, ON

Price, Charles Edward
D Coy
Quebec City, QC