The Animal Victoria Cross (ePub)
The Dickin Medal
Imprint: Pen & Sword Military
File Size: 1.4 MB (.epub)
Illustrations: 16 black and white illustrations
ISBN: 9781783031962
Published: 20th August 2012
National publicity!
- As seen in The Times, April 2019: 'How tale of war hero cat Simon turned to tragedy'.
- As seen in the Daily Mirror, April 2019: 'Book commemorates animal war heroes for outstanding loyalty, bravery and courage'.
- As seen in the Daily Mail, April 2019: 'From the Alsatian who dragged his drowning handler to safety to the pigeon that saved a bomber crew, new book honours Britain's animal war heroes'.
Sixty-three animals have won the Dickin Medal, the highest award for animal bravery. Their inspiring stories are told, for the first time in one book, The Animal Victoria Cross.
Four types of animal have been honoured, dogs, horses, pigeons and one cat. Simon, the feline, is credited with saving an entire ship's crew. Canine breeds include Alsatians, Terriers, Collies and Spaniels. The majority of awards were related to war service and the conflicts include the Second World War, Korea, Iraq, Yugoslavia and Afghanistan. The Al-Qaeda attack on the Twin Towers as well as the Blitz saw great courage exhibited by animals such as Rip, the dog who saved many lives.
In addition to British animals, there are American, Canadian, Australian and Egyptian winners of this unique award.
This delightful book will be treasured by animal lovers everywhere. It is ideal to dip into or read from cover to cover.
The need for a medal that rewarded the loyalty, training, calm, cunning of the various animals that accompanied man in battle and in emergencies related to war gave birth to the Dickin Medal, and this book illustrates how an award even if only symbolic for the love and dedication of these animals was the least that could be done. Exciting and engaging stories that will make you smile and move in Peter Hawthorne's "The Animal Victoria Cross - The Dickin Medal".
On The Old Barbed Wire
Read the full Italian review here
As featured in
The Times 19/4/19
Book commemorates animal war heroes for outstanding loyalty, bravery and courage
The Mirror 17/4/19
Peter Hawthorne's book, The Animal Victoria Cross: The Dickin Medaltell the animal's stories including an Alsatian that dragged its drowning handler to safety under gunfire in WWII.
Mail Online
This book will be treasured by animal lovers everywhere. It's ideal to dip into, perhaps with a familiar furry friend at your feet...
Julian Stockwin
This book is a real must read for horse lovers; I really enjoyed it and would recommend it. I loved all of the stories about the amazing things that animals have done and I think that it is really nice that someone has taken the time to put all of them in a book.
Central Horse News
A wonderful story.
The Bulletin
The Dickin Medal is awarded to animals who display outstanding loyalty, bravery and courage. Read all of their inspiring stories, including Simon, the cat credited with saving an entire ship's crew!
Your Cat Magazine
These touching and inspiring exploits, from the Blitz to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, comprise a delightful collection of vignettes telling a little-known story of animal devotion and heroism.
Military History Monthly
A new book charting the bravery of animals in history has told the full story of Rifleman Khan, as the dog so fondly became known, for the first time.
Surrey Comet
A new book has just been published that outlines the heroic actions of an Exeter pigeon.
Express and Echo (Exeter)
The daring exploits of a heroic dog from Shropshire who was parachuted behind enemy lines on vital SAS missions feature in a new book which has just been published.
Shropshire Star
About Peter Hawthorne
Peter Hawthorne is Head of History and Lecturer in Law at Stafford College. He lives near Telford, Shropshire
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