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The Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in war. It has become recognised as "the animals' VC".
Maria Dickin was the founder of the PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals), a United Kingdom veterinary charity, and set up the Medal as an award for any animal displaying conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty whilst serving with armed forces or civil emergency services.
Notable winners have have included pigeons, dogs, horses and one cat, "Simon", the mascot of HMS Amethyst during the Yangtze Incident in 1949.
Award recipients
- 1943: Ruhr Express - a carrier pigeon
- 1944: Commando - a carrier pigeon
- 1949: Simon - the ship's cat on HMS Amethyst during the Yangtze Incident
- 2000: Gander - a Newfoundland dog serving with Canadian infantry in Hong Kong in 1941
- 2002: Appollo - a search and rescue dog with the New York Police Department; Salty and Roselle - guide dogs at the World Trade Center
- 2003: Buster - a Royal Army Veterinary Corps search dog
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