Sam (army dog)
Encyclopedia
Sam was an army dog who served with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps
Dog Unit. While serving in Bosnia and Herzegovina
in the 1990s, Sam helped to apprehend an armed man and also to hold back an armed mob besieging a compound where Serbs
were taking refuge. He received the Dickin Medal
, the animals' equivalent of the Victoria Cross
, in 2003 for these acts of bravery.
. Sam and his handler, Sergeant Iain Carnegie, were part of the Peacekeeping
force in Bosnia and Herzegovina
.
While patrolling in the town of Drvar
in 1998 with the First Battalion of The Royal Canadian Regiment
, their patrol came under fire from a gunman. After firing, the gunman ran into a bar, whereupon Sam chased him and brought him down. Sergeant Carnegie then disarmed the man and retrieved a loaded pistol.
Six days after this incident, a mob of rioters armed with crowbars, clubs and stones surrounded a compound where about 50 Serbs
were taking refuge. Sam's team managed to force their way into the compound and he held off the rioters until reinforcements arrived.
Sam retired from service two years later, at the age of 10. He died from natural causes soon afterwards.
His handler, Sergeant Carnegie, mentioned after receiving the posthumous award on behalf of Sam that he could never have attempted to carry out his duties without Sam. He also mentioned that Sam never backed off when facing the rioting mob.
Royal Army Veterinary Corps
The Royal Army Veterinary Corps is an administrative and operational branch of the British Army responsible for the provision, training and care of animals. It is a small but technically competent corps forming part of the Army Medical Services...
Dog Unit. While serving in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
in the 1990s, Sam helped to apprehend an armed man and also to hold back an armed mob besieging a compound where Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
were taking refuge. He received 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...
, the animals' equivalent of 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....
, in 2003 for these acts of bravery.
Life and career
Sam was a German Shepherd dog, who served with the Dog Unit of the Royal Army Veterinary CorpsRoyal Army Veterinary Corps
The Royal Army Veterinary Corps is an administrative and operational branch of the British Army responsible for the provision, training and care of animals. It is a small but technically competent corps forming part of the Army Medical Services...
. Sam and his handler, Sergeant Iain Carnegie, were part of the Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
force in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
.
While patrolling in the town of Drvar
Drvar
Drvar is a town and municipality in western Bosnia and Herzegovina, located on the road between Bosansko Grahovo and Bosanski Petrovac, also near Glamoč. It is administratively part of Canton 10 of the Federation....
in 1998 with the First Battalion of The Royal Canadian Regiment
The Royal Canadian Regiment
The Royal Canadian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. The regiment consists of four battalions, three in the Regular Force and one in the Primary Reserve...
, their patrol came under fire from a gunman. After firing, the gunman ran into a bar, whereupon Sam chased him and brought him down. Sergeant Carnegie then disarmed the man and retrieved a loaded pistol.
Six days after this incident, a mob of rioters armed with crowbars, clubs and stones surrounded a compound where about 50 Serbs
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
were taking refuge. Sam's team managed to force their way into the compound and he held off the rioters until reinforcements arrived.
Sam retired from service two years later, at the age of 10. He died from natural causes soon afterwards.
Recognition
Sam posthumously received the Dickin Medal, the animals' equivalent of the Victoria Cross, in 2003 in recognition of his work in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was the fifty ninth animal to receive the award, and was also the first army dog to receive the Dickin Medal since 1944. The citation for the award, which was given on 14 January 2003, read as follows:His handler, Sergeant Carnegie, mentioned after receiving the posthumous award on behalf of Sam that he could never have attempted to carry out his duties without Sam. He also mentioned that Sam never backed off when facing the rioting mob.