BRIAN DM 48 Celebrating the inspirational acts of animal bravery and devotion to duty that lie behind every PDSA Dickin Medal. © The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals 10/18 Registered charity nos. 208217 & SC037585 PDSA DICKIN MEDAL BRIAN DM 48 “This patrol dog was attached to a Parachute Battalion of the 13th Battalion Airborne Division. He landed in Normandy with them and, having done the requisite number of jumps, became a fully-qualified Paratrooper.” Date of Award: 29 March 1947 BRIAN’S STORY A ‘qualified paratrooper’, Brian, also known as Bing, served with the 13th Battalion Airborne Regiment. When war broke out, he was growing fast and eating far more than the Fetch family from Loughborough’s small ration could sustain, so they answered the country’s call and Brian joined up with the Army War Dog Training School. Following his training, Brian was posted to the 13th Lancashire Parachute Battalion. Selected to take part in a two-week parachute training course with the ‘scout and sniper unit,’ he was one of only three dogs to successfully finish the course and jumped into action seven times in total. “BRIAN HAD TO BE CUT DOWN FROM A TREE, UNDER FIRE ...” As the D-Day landings began on 7 June 1944, Brian was parachuted into the Normandy town of Ranville. The jump didn’t go according to plan and Brian had to be cut down from a tree, under fire, by fellow paratrooper, Sergeant Ken Bailey. For the next few months, the two fought side by side as the Allies pushed on towards Berlin, and despite sustaining minor injuries, Brian continued to perform his sniffer dog and sentry duties with distinction. The final airborne assault of the war, Operation Varsity, involved thousands of aircraft and 16,000 Allied paratroopers pushing to cross the Rhine into the German heartlands. It was Brian’s last jump. When the war was over, Brian remained on active duty in occupied Germany, but was eventually reunited with the Fetch family back in the UK. Presented with his PDSA Dickin Medal by Chief Air Marshall Sir Frederick Bowhill on 29 March 1947, Brian’s citation read: “For excellent patrol work and qualifying as a paratrooper, Airborne Division, Normandy, June 1944.” When he eventually died in 1955, he was buried alongside fellow PDSA Dickin Medal recipients at the PDSA Animal Cemetery in Ilford, Essex. DM THE PDSA DICKIN MEDAL The close relationship between humans and animals is rarely more profound than in times of conflict. Throughout history, animals have stood alongside humans in action and shown incredible bravery and devotion to duty when confronted with the horrors of war. Our founder, Maria Dickin CBE introduced the PDSA Dickin Medal on 2 December 1943, at the height of World War II. A tireless campaigner for animal welfare, Maria Dickin was determined to raise the status of animals in society and improve their care. The Medal was instituted to recognise outstanding acts of gallantry and devotion to duty displayed by animals serving with the Armed Forces or Civil Defence units in any theatre of war, throughout the world. Regarded worldwide as the animals’ Victoria Cross, the PDSA Dickin Medal is as inspirational and relevant today as it was 75 years ago. It is a fitting tribute to the gallant animals ‘who also served’ and whose remarkable contributions helped save countless lives. The highest honour any animal can receive, the Medal stands as testament to the Diligent, Resolute, Fearless, and Relentless qualities shown by animals in action. PADDY - DM 7 THORN - DM 12 NAVY BLUE - DM 18 SCOTCH LASS - DM 23 NPS.42.NS.2780 - DM 29 ALL ALONE - DM 35 NPS.43.9451 MAP serving with Civil Defence NPS.41.NS.2862 NPS.42.21610 Date of award: October 1945 NURP.39.SDS.39 Date of award: 1 September 1944 Date of award: 2 March 1945 Date of award: March 1945 Date of award: June 1945 ‘For bringing important messages three Date of award: February 1946 ‘For the best recorded time with ‘For locating air-raid casualties ‘For delivering an important ‘For bringing 38 microphotographs times from enemy-occupied country ‘For delivering an important PDSA a message from the Normandy in spite of thick smoke in a message from a Raiding Party across the North Sea in good time viz: July 1942, August 1942 and message in one day over a distance Operations, while serving with burning building.’ on the West Coast of France, although injured, while serving April 1943, while serving with the of 400 miles, while serving with the RAF in June 1944.’ although injured, while serving with the RAF in Holland Special Service from the Continent.’ the NPS in August 1943.’ with the RAF in June 1944.’ in September 1944.’ KENLEY LASS - DM 13 DICKIN BEAUTY - DM 8 NURP.36.JH.190 NPS.42.NS.7524 - DM 30 PRINCESS - DM 36 PDSA Animal Rescue Squad Date of award: March 1945 RIFLEMAN KHAN - DM 19 SHEILA - DM 24 Date of award: October 1945 42.W.D.593 serving with Civil Defence ‘For being the first pigeon to War Dog no. 147. 6th Battalion Date of award: 2 July 1945 ‘For bringing important messages Date of award: May 1946 Date of award: 12 January 1945 be used with success for secret Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) ‘For assisting in the rescue of three times from enemy-occupied ‘Sent on special mission to Crete, this ‘For being the pioneer dog in locating communications from an agent in Date of award: 27 March 1945 four American airmen lost on the country, viz: July 1942, May 1943 pigeon returned to her loft (RAF MEDAL buried air-raid victims while serving enemy-occupied France while serving ‘For rescuing L/Cpl. Muldoon Cheviots in a blizzard after an and July 1943, while serving with the Alexandria) having travelled about with a PDSA Animal Rescue Squad.’ with the NPS in October 1940.’ from drowning under heavy aircrash in December 1944.’ Special Service from the Continent.’ 500 miles mostly over sea, with shellfire at the assault of Walcheren, most valuable information.One of November 1944, while serving the finest performances in the war ROLL OF JET - DM 9 COMMANDO - DM 14 with the 6th Cameronians (SR).’ BILLY - DM 25 BROAD ARROW - DM 31 record of the Pigeon Service.’ MAP serving with Civil Defence NURP.38.EGU.242 NU.41.HQ.4373 41.BA.2793 Date of award: 12 January 1945 Date of award: March 1945 Date of award: August 1945 Date of award: October 1945 ‘For being responsible for the rescue ‘For successfully delivering messages REX - DM 20 ‘For delivering a message from a ‘For bringing important messages three JUDY - DM 37 of persons trapped under blitzed from agents in occupied France MAP Civil Defence Rescue Dog force-landed bomber, while in a times from enemy-occupied country Date of award: May 1946 HONOUR buildings while serving with the on three occasions: twice under Date of award: April 1945 state of complete collapse and under viz: May 1943, June 1943 and ‘For magnificent courage and London Civil Defence Services.’ exceptionally adverse conditions, while ‘For outstandingly good work in exceptionally bad weather conditions, August 1943, while serving with the endurance in Japanese prison camps, WINKIE - DM 1 BEACH COMBER - DM 4 serving with the NPS in 1942.’ the location of casualties in burning while serving with the RAF in 1942.’ Special Service from the Continent.’ which helped to maintain morale NEHU.40.NS.1 NPS.41.NS.4230 buildings. Undaunted by smouldering among her fellow prisoners and also IRMA - DM 10 Date of award: 2 December 1943 Date of award: 6 March 1944 debris, thick smoke, intense heat and for saving many lives through her MAP serving with Civil Defence FLYING DUTCHMAN - DM 15 COLOGNE - DM 26 MARY OF EXETER - DM 32 ‘For delivering a message under ‘For bringing the first news to this jets of water from fire hoses, this dog intelligence and watchfulness.’ Date of award: 12 January 1945 NPS.42.NS.44802 NURP.39.NPS.144 NURP.40.WCE.249 exceptionally difficult conditions country of the landing at Dieppe, displayed uncanny intelligence and ‘For being responsible for the rescue Date of award: March 1945 Date of award: 1947 Date of award: November 1945 and so contributing to the rescue under hazardous conditions in outstanding determination in his of persons trapped under blitzed ‘For successfully delivering messages ‘For homing from a crashed ‘For outstanding endurance on MERCURY - DM 38 of an aircrew while serving with September 1942, while serving efforts to follow up any scent which buildings while serving with from agents in Holland on three aircraft over Cologne although War Service in spite of wounds.’ NURP.37.CEN.335 the RAF in February 1942.’ with the Canadian Army.’ led him to a trapped casualty.’ the London Civil Defences.’ occasions. Missing on fourth mission, seriously wounded, while serving Date of award: August 1946 while serving with the RAF in 1944.’ with the RAF in 1943.’ ‘For carrying out a special task PETER - DM 33 TYKE - DM 2 BOB - DM 5 WILLIAM OF ORANGE - DM 21 involving a flight of 480 miles from ROB - DM 11 Date of award: November 1945 (also known as George) 6th Royal West Kent Regiment NPS.42.NS.15125 Northern Denmark while serving War Dog no. 471/322 ROYAL BLUE - DM 16 RIP - DM 27 ‘For locating victims trapped No.1263 MEPS.43 Date of award: 24 March 1944 Date of award: May 1945 with the Special Section, Army Special Air Service NURP.40.GVIS.453 Stray picked up by Civil Defence under blitzed buildings while Date of award: 2 December 1943 ‘For constant devotion to duty ‘For delivering a message from Pigeon Service in July 1942.’ Date of award: 22 January 1945 Date of award: March 1945 Squad at Poplar, London E14 serving with the MAP attached ‘For delivering