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Veterans’ Week 2006 Glow Worms Do Their Part Soldiers in the First World War spent a lot of time in trenches and tunnels. They could not use lanterns at night because the enemy would see them. So, soldiers used glow worms to read important messages or maps in the dark. The worms give off a blue- green light. Rats! Rats still serve soldiers today! Gambian giant Smart Dogs More Than Mascots: pouched rats locate ANIMALS AID IN WAR AND PEACE SUPPORT MISSIONS Save Lives: landmines in African MEET FANNY AND ALEX, MINE DETECTION SPECIALISTS! Remembrance Club Members Share fields. The rats can smell Stories of Animals in War the mines, and aren’t big Left to Right: Squeaker, Bonfire Jr., Simone, Gandy, Ellie and Win enough to make them Fanny and Alex, two explode. The rats get a German Shepherd dogs, Imagine being a pigeon the brave efforts of the banana or a spent six months training awarded a medal for animals who served and peanut when to recognize the smell bravery in war! This is just helped these people. one of the interesting of the explosives in they help stories you’ll find in In this newspaper you find a mine. landmines. Terrible injuries this special newspaper will read the incredible and death can result when produced for you by stories about the relatives someone steps on one of Veterans Affairs Canada. of the members of the these buried explosives. Remembrance Club. Their Fanny and Alex and other The members of the relatives saved lives, pulled “de-mining dogs” sniff out Remembrance Club supplies over mountains Tunnelers’ some of the millions of (Gandy, Squeaker, Win, and through streams, landmines buried around Simone, Ellie and Bonfire carried the mail, delivered Friends the world. Jr.) have ancestors who messages, sniffed for During the Second were pretty amazing bombs and remained loyal World War, soldiers sent animal heroes. They friends to the men and doves and rats into the worked to help humans in women in Canada’s military. tunnels behind enemy times of war and peace These brave animals helped lines to detect bad support missions. Canadian soldiers and air and poison gas. people in countries around Every Remembrance Day the world. (November 11), it is important to remember the men and women who served and died in war and peace support efforts. It Mine Detection Dogs Fanny and Alex Source: Canadian Landmine Foundation is also nice to remember Pest Brigade The Dickin Medal Not all animals in war were helpful. During the The Dickin Medal, which was created in day, mockingbirds, toads Wars cost a lot of 1943 by Maria Dickin, is awarded to money. During the and moths bothered animals for their brave acts. Only 60 Second World War, soldiers with their cooing, animals have received the Dickin this poster reminds croaking and scurrying. Medal: 32 pigeons, 24 dogs, three people to be careful At night, when soldiers horses, and one cat—Simon! about how much they needed their rest or were are spending. Money is needed for soldiers’ on guard, night pests The words on the medal say: “For Gallantry” and “We also food, clothing, and scared them. weapons. Serve.” www.vac-acc.gc.ca Human & Animal Partnerships Furry & Feathered Friends Serving in War CAT AIDS CREW OF THE HMS AMETHYST BY SIMONE, MONTRÉAL, QUEBEC killed as soon as they left Simon became famous. the Amethyst. About 50 Letters and gifts from men remained onboard— around the world were sent some of them were hurt. to him, and there were even The ship was heavily poems written about him! guarded by the enemy for three months. Simon was soon awarded the Dickin Medal—the only Simon stayed onboard with cat to ever receive this the men. He was injured honour. A special cat collar, too, but he continued to woven with the Medal’s do his job. He caught at ribbon colours, was made least one rat a day, often for Simon to wear. more, which helped boost Simon the crew’s spirits because He was due to be presented he was helping to save their with the Dickin Medal in stayed food supply. Simon also December 1949; but the found another job. Several cat-hero died the month of the seamen lay unwell before. The Amethyst crew onboard with in the sick bay, shocked was very sad and upset. and wounded from their They buried Simon, with the men. He was experiences under fire. full Naval honours, in a pet He was born in 1947 in The doctor onboard thought cemetery near London, Hong Kong on a busy Simon could help, and he England. When Simon’s injured too, but dockyard for ships. encouraged the cat to sit death was announced, his Abandoned, he was adopted on their bunks, where he photograph and a story he continued to by a seaman who brought would knead his paws and about his deeds appeared him back to his British ship, purr, and tend to his own in Time, a magazine read by HMS Amethyst, to kill some wounds. His own injuries millions of people around do his job. of the rats onboard. Simon helped the sailors relate the world. did his job well—he also to him and they started to became a cuddly friend of welcome his visits, which Cats have been valued on the men. helped them get over their ships for their rat-catching own injuries. abilities and their furry The Amethyst was sent to friendliness. During wartime, protect the British people After 101 days, the seamen when a seaman was far on the Yangtze River in were finally able to escape from hugs at home, a cat China, but one day in April, and sailed the Amethyst could bring a lot of comfort. the ship was attacked. back to Hong Kong. News Some cats became war During the battle, some of about Simon and the crew heroes. Maybe you’ve never the seamen were killed and was grabbed by newspaper thought of a cat as a hero? the ship sailed into shore. and radio reporters and Think again! Simon became shared with the world. the most celebrated and Men tried to escape from honoured cat of our time. the ship, but many were Amethyst Able Seaman Simon and crew from the H.M.S. Source: Britain’s People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) 2 www.vac-acc.gc.ca MASCOT DOG SACRIFICED LIFE FOR HUMAN COMRADES BY Gandy, ST. JOHN’S, Newfoundland Gander was a mascot, but he was also seen as a fellow soldier with jobs to perform. Gander with the Royal Rifles of Canada departing for Hong Kong in 1941. Source: Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association I know we’re not supposed Fred Kelly was the soldier saw a grenade tossed to boast, but I’m so responsible for feeding near a group of wounded United proud of my ancestor, Gander and giving him Canadian soldiers. He ran Nations Sergeant Gander. I’ve got cool showers to keep him to it, took it, and rushed Aims to Maintain to share his story. He was comfortable in the heat away with it. The grenade World Peace a Newfoundland dog, like (Newfoundland dogs have exploded and Gander was me, and was raised by very heavy fur). Taking killed. But he had saved the the Hayden family on the care of Gander was a lives of the seven soldiers! airport base in Gander, pleasant duty for Kelly Those men never forgot Newfoundland. and his regiment. During Sergeant Gander. The United Nations wartime the companionship (UN) is made up of 192 He was a friendly dog who of a dog reminded many of In 2000, Gander was countries from around loved playing with children. the men of pets and family awarded the Dickin Medal the world. Canada is He pulled them on their at home. for his bravery during a one of the nations that sleds and they watched gathering of Veterans in provides them with him drool—Newfoundland Gander was a mascot, Ottawa. There stood Fred peacekeeping advice and dogs drool a lot!—He but he was also seen as Kelly with a Newfoundland expert peacekeepers. enjoyed living on the base a fellow soldier with a job dog named Rimshot, who This year, they are but spent too much time to perform. He would bark represented Gander, the celebrating the 50 years on the runways, trying to and nip at the legs of the brave mascot-soldier. of peacekeeping. catch the planes as they enemy, scaring them away. Gander’s medal was the came in to land. One night in December first awarded to a Canadian The UN was set up in 1941, Gander showed his animal and is now displayed 1945. The aims are: One day, because he was true courage. at the Canadian War • to keep world peace; growing to be so large, Museum in Ottawa. the Hayden family decided He was a smart dog—he • for countries to to give the playful dog to knew what a grenade was be good global neighbours; the Royal Rifles of Canada and how it could hurt Regiment stationed at the people. That night, Gander • to end poverty, Gander airport. (Did you disease and illiteracy know that Newfoundland in the world; dogs can grow to weigh 55 • to stop harm to kilograms? That’s one BIG the environment; dog!) He quickly became a • to respect human and good friend and mascot. children’s rights; and In 1941, the Royal Rifles of • to keep the world Canada Regiment was sent free from war.

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