New book reveals heroic animal 'VC's'

BNPS.co.uk (01202 558833)
Pic: ImperialWarMuseum/BNPS

Left - DD43T139 is released by the crew of a stricken and on the right, a soldier releases William of Orange off the coast of New Guinea.

The remarkable stories of the 71 heroic animals who have received the pet equivalent of the Victoria Cross are told in a new book.

They include a dog who dragged his drowning handler to safety in a torrent of shells and machine gun fire and a carrier pigeon...
more »

BNPS.co.uk (01202 558833)
Pic: ImperialWarMuseum/BNPS

Left - DD43T139 is released by the crew of a stricken and on the right, a soldier releases William of Orange off the coast of New Guinea.

The remarkable stories of the 71 heroic animals who have received the pet equivalent of the Victoria Cross are told in a new book.

They include a dog who dragged his drowning handler to safety in a torrent of shells and machine gun fire and a carrier pigeon which flew 120 miles to raise the alarm for a bomber crew who had crashed into the sea.

Their courageous acts, and others involving dogs, cats, pigeons and horses, feature in history teacher Philip Hawthorne's book, The Animal Victoria Cross: The Dickin Medal.
« less