From mascots in ceremonial roles to frontline support, there is a proud history of dogs serving in the British Armed Forces.
To celebrate International Dog Day 2023, we’re sharing the stories of five heroic dogs from British military history.
All of these dogs were awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal, commonly referred to as the ‘animal’s Victoria Cross’ for their heroics.
Rifleman Khan the German Shepherd, Second World War
Rifleman Khan really was ‘man’s best friend’.
Assaulting the strategically important island of Walcheren in the Netherlands by boat, Khan and his handler, Lance Corporal James Muldoon, came under heavy fire.
With troops escaping into the water to avoid the attack, Khan and Muldoon were separated. Realising this, Khan swam back nearly 200 metres to find Muldoon – who couldn’t swim – and dragged him all the way to safety.
Despite being separated during the war, Khan and Muldoon were reunited in a parade in 1947, and lived out their days together in Scotland.
Kuno the Belgian Malinois, Afghanistan, 2019
During the War in Afghanistan, Kuno and his handler were deployed to support SBS troops in the fight against al-Qaeda.
When forces were pinned down by grenades and machine-gun fire, Kuno was sent in – wearing night vision goggles – to attack the gunman and put an end to the standoff.
In successfully doing so, Kuno survived but received significant injuries. Once he returned to the UK, he became the first UK military dog to receive custom-made prosthetic limbs.
Kuno now enjoys a well-earned retirement.
Photographer: Sgt Jimmy Wise. Copyright: UK MOD © Crown copyright 2021. (Image only visible on the website, not on our app).
Sasha the Labrador Retriever, Afghanistan, 2008
Sasha was a bomb detection dog credited with 15 confirmed finds of ammunition caches or hidden explosives.
Sadly, Sasha along with her handler Lance Corporal Kenneth Rowe were killed in an ambush during a patrol in Helmand.
After a sniper shot Sasha, she returned injured to Rowe, but Taliban forces located their position and killed both with a volley of RPGs.
They were both due to return home the day before they died, but Rowe had asked to stay behind as there was no incoming dog team to replace them.
Sasha was posthumously awarded the Dickin Medal in 2014 and Rowe’s family were presented with the Elizabeth Cross in his honour in 2010.
Sam the German Shepherd, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 1990s
On two different occasions, Sam the German Shepherd showed remarkable courage and duty.
Sam served in the Dog Unit of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, with his handler Sergeant Iain Carnegie, as part of the Peacekeeping force in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the 1990s.
Not only did Sam successfully bring down an armed man threatening civilians and Service personnel, six days later he helped to hold off rioters attempting to gain access to a compound housing Serbian refugees.
Sam’s determination and refusal to back down kept the refugees safe until reinforcements arrived.
Sam retired in 2000 and died from natural causes shortly after, posthumously receiving his medal in 2002.
Rip the mixed-breed terrier, London, Second World War
Despite not officially being a forces dog, the story of Rip the terrier is one of true ‘Blitz Spirit’, and something we couldn’t leave out.
Found as a stray following the heavy bombing of London in 1940, he was quickly adopted by an Air Raid Warden as the mascot of Southill Street Air Raid Patrol.
Rip soon became an unofficial rescue dog and was used to help find casualties of the bombing. Despite never being officially trained, Rip was a natural and is credited with finding over 100 victims during the war.
Rip was buried in the Ilford Animal Cemetery in October 1946.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-59197048
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53949310
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/search-dog-died-tyneside-soldier-7043700
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2593963.stm
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/world-war-ii/rip-wwii-the-blitz.html
https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/animal-awards-programme/pdsa-dickin-medal
