Dickin Medal: Why Do We Call Them Heroes? Quiz

Answer: water, earth and air

These animals,not all of which were dogs, served on land, sea and air, so it is appropriate that the medal ribbon should reflect this. The green represents the green that the sea sometimes seems.

The medal is a large, circular bronze disc and, within a laurel wreath bears the words - "For Gallantry," and "We also serve" It was instituted by Maria Dickin, CBE, founder of the Dispensary for Sick Animals in the UK when she realised how much gallantry these animals displayed as they worked alongside forces personnel in times of war. Later a PDSA Gold Medal was also awarded for "civilian" animals.

Answer: The enemy was only feet away from his patrol

The citation for Bob reads "For constant devotion to duty with special mention of patrol work at Green Hill in North Africa while serving with the 6th Battalion Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment."

The patrol had thought they were going into an area free of enemies but Bob had sensed them before a movement gave their position away.

As this regiment was formed in 1881, the Queen would have been Queen Victoria.

Answer: Finding buried casualties

Their citations read "For being responsible for the rescue of persons trapped under blitzed buildings." I remember, as a child, being taken by my father to see if my grandparents were safe. We climbed over rubble spread right across everything as far as we could see and we had to search for a route along roads that we had known very well but could not now recognise. The dogs must have been incredibly brave to enter the unstable buildings which still smelt of fire and rubble, and with no comfortable places to put their feet.
These two dogs were Irma and Jet.

Answer: jets of water from the hoses

Rex's citation continues "...this dog displayed uncanny intelligence and outstanding determination in the efforts to follow up any scent which led to a trapped casualty."

Answer: sheepdog

On the exposed hill tops, it would have been impossible to see the way in a blizzard and many people have died when lost in bad weather on our English hillsides. Sheila was a sheepdog, a collie. She would have regularly searched for lost sheep on those hills and the airmen were lucky to be found by an animal experienced in hunting for her charges in those conditions on the bleak hills.

Answer: Steal food for the other prisoners

Judy's medal was awarded for "magnificent courage and endurance in Japanese prison camps which helped maintain morale and courage among her fellow prisoners and also for saving many lives through her intelligence and watchfulness."

She did many other brave and useful acts - bringing debris to keep drowning prisoners afloat when the boat they were being moved in sank, indicating the presence of poisonous snakes, and spooking the guards by running round with a skull in her mouth. In fact, she could have a complete book to herself.

Her award was made in May, 1946

Answer: Attacking an armed terrorist

The armed terrorist was stealing up on the officers when the dogs attacked, warning the officers of the danger. Despite their injuries, the dogs chased away the enemy. Then Judy kept guard over the injured Punch until help arrived. Both dogs survived. In 2011, Judy's medal was sold for £7,200. Sadly, as at that date, Punch's medal seems to have disappeared.

Answer: Kept working, although injured

He found all the mines in his area during the operation, but one exploded. Ricky maintained his composure and kept working despite his head being injured by the blast. Had he become excited, he would have been a danger to the rest of the section working nearby.

Who dares say that dogs do not understand what they are doing, but are simply following a routine, or even that it is just fun for them?

Answer: He parachuted

Brian made the requisite number of parachute jumps became a fully fledged paratrooper. It must have been terrifying for him to make a parachute drop into a zone where a full scale battle was raging.

Answer: Pigeons

Between 1943 and 2013, 64 Dickin Medals were awarded; 32 went to pigeons, 28 to dogs, 3 to horses and one to a cat. There have also been PDSA Gold Medals presented for peacetime bravery. David Long has written a book - "The Animals' VC"