Peter (dog)
Encyclopedia
Peter was a collie
dog who in 1945 was awarded the Dickin Medal
, considered to be the Victoria Cross
for animals. During the later stages of the Second World War he served as a search and rescue dog in London. He attended the 1946 Civil Defence Stand–Down parade, where he was presented to the King
and Queen, and Princess Elizabeth. His medal was auctioned in 2000 for £4,600 (US$6,964).
, for 25 shilling
s. He was noted by his owner as having dual talents; for destruction of his owner's home and for ignoring every command given. He was transferred into war service, serving with Air Ministry dog-handler Archie Knight at the Civil Defence depot in Chelsea. He was known as Rescue Dog No. 2664/9288 Peter.
Active from early 1945 until the end of the Second World War, Peter acted as a search and rescue dog in London. Knight wrote of the dog in a report, "I think one of his finest jobs was on Monday. We were called 20 hours after the incident and after several hours of heavy rain. Three bodies were missing and he very quickly indicated in a most unlikely spot, but he was right, and they uncovered a man and a woman. The next day we were called to another job. There were so many calls for Peter that I worked him 10 hours and he never once refused to give all he had. All his marks revealed casualties. I hated to work him like this – but I also hated to refuse the rescue parties who were asking for him." Peter's rescue efforts were not limited to saving people; on one occasion he indicated a trapped victim which turned out to be an African Grey Parrot
. On another occasion he saved six people in a single attack.
In 1946, Peter and his handler were present at the Civil Defence Stand–Down parade in Hyde Park, London
. It was there that he was presented to King
and Queen, and received a kiss on the nose from Princess Elizabeth, the future Elizabeth II.
He was later used to demonstrate mountain rescue techniques to other rescue dogs and handlers. He returned home to Mrs Stables, and moved to a PDSA
animal sanctuary before he died. Peter was buried at the PDSA's Ilford Animal Cemetery
on 20 November 1952, one of twelve recipients of the Dickin Medal to be buried there.
, considered to be the Victoria Cross
for animals, in November 1945. His citation read, "For locating victims trapped under blitzed buildings while serving with the MAP attached to Civil Defence of London." The ceremony was conducted at the Grosvenor House Hotel
, where he was awarded the medal by Sir James Ross of the Air Ministry.
His Dickin Medal was auctioned by Spinks on 27 July 2000 for £4,600 (US$6,964). Peter's owner had died, and the medal was being sold by a private collector. At the same auction, the Dickin Medal awarded to the pigeon Tyke was also sold.
Collie
The collie is a distinctive type of herding dog, including many related landraces and formal breeds. It originates in Scotland and Northern England. It is a medium-sized, fairly lightly built dog with a pointed snout, and many types have a distinctive white pattern over the shoulders. Collies...
dog who in 1945 was awarded the Dickin Medal
Dickin Medal
The Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 in the United Kingdom by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in war. It is a bronze medallion, bearing the words "For Gallantry" and "We Also Serve" within a laurel wreath, carried on a ribbon of striped green, dark brown and pale blue...
, considered to be the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
for animals. During the later stages of the Second World War he served as a search and rescue dog in London. He attended the 1946 Civil Defence Stand–Down parade, where he was presented to the King
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
and Queen, and Princess Elizabeth. His medal was auctioned in 2000 for £4,600 (US$6,964).
Rescue career
Peter was born in 1941, and was purchased by Mrs Audrey Stables, of Gregory Avenue, Weoley CastleWeoley Castle
-External links:****** - Educational teaching sessions and resources at Weoley Castle* - fun and games for children based on Weoley Castle...
, for 25 shilling
Shilling
The shilling is a unit of currency used in some current and former British Commonwealth countries. The word shilling comes from scilling, an accounting term that dates back to Anglo-Saxon times where it was deemed to be the value of a cow in Kent or a sheep elsewhere. The word is thought to derive...
s. He was noted by his owner as having dual talents; for destruction of his owner's home and for ignoring every command given. He was transferred into war service, serving with Air Ministry dog-handler Archie Knight at the Civil Defence depot in Chelsea. He was known as Rescue Dog No. 2664/9288 Peter.
Active from early 1945 until the end of the Second World War, Peter acted as a search and rescue dog in London. Knight wrote of the dog in a report, "I think one of his finest jobs was on Monday. We were called 20 hours after the incident and after several hours of heavy rain. Three bodies were missing and he very quickly indicated in a most unlikely spot, but he was right, and they uncovered a man and a woman. The next day we were called to another job. There were so many calls for Peter that I worked him 10 hours and he never once refused to give all he had. All his marks revealed casualties. I hated to work him like this – but I also hated to refuse the rescue parties who were asking for him." Peter's rescue efforts were not limited to saving people; on one occasion he indicated a trapped victim which turned out to be an African Grey Parrot
African Grey Parrot
The African Grey Parrot , also known as the Grey Parrot, is a medium-sized parrot found in the primary and secondary rainforest of West and Central Africa. Experts regard it as one of the most intelligent birds. They feed primarily on palm nuts, seeds, fruits, leafy matter, but have been observed...
. On another occasion he saved six people in a single attack.
In 1946, Peter and his handler were present at the Civil Defence Stand–Down parade in Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
. It was there that he was presented to King
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
and Queen, and received a kiss on the nose from Princess Elizabeth, the future Elizabeth II.
He was later used to demonstrate mountain rescue techniques to other rescue dogs and handlers. He returned home to Mrs Stables, and moved to a PDSA
PDSA
The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals is a veterinary charity in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1917 by Maria Dickin to provide care for sick and injured animals of the poor...
animal sanctuary before he died. Peter was buried at the PDSA's Ilford Animal Cemetery
Ilford Animal Cemetery
Ilford Animal Cemetery is an animal cemetery in Ilford, London, England, containing over three thousand burials. It was founded in the 1920s and is operated by the PDSA. The cemetery was closed to new burials in the 1960s and gradually became neglected and overgrown. In the early twenty first...
on 20 November 1952, one of twelve recipients of the Dickin Medal to be buried there.
Awards
Peter was awarded the Dickin MedalDickin Medal
The Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 in the United Kingdom by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in war. It is a bronze medallion, bearing the words "For Gallantry" and "We Also Serve" within a laurel wreath, carried on a ribbon of striped green, dark brown and pale blue...
, considered to be the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
for animals, in November 1945. His citation read, "For locating victims trapped under blitzed buildings while serving with the MAP attached to Civil Defence of London." The ceremony was conducted at the Grosvenor House Hotel
Grosvenor House Hotel
Grosvenor House is a large and luxurious hotel. The iconic Mayfair, London hotel is owned by the Sahara Group. The name has also been licensed to a property in Dubai....
, where he was awarded the medal by Sir James Ross of the Air Ministry.
His Dickin Medal was auctioned by Spinks on 27 July 2000 for £4,600 (US$6,964). Peter's owner had died, and the medal was being sold by a private collector. At the same auction, the Dickin Medal awarded to the pigeon Tyke was also sold.