The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 45, November 4, 2007, Article 22

DICKIN MEDAL AWARDEE HONORED - SIMON THE CAT OF THE HMS AMETHYST

"Tributes are being paid to a cat credited with helping
save the lives of Royal Navy officers during the Chinese
civil war in 1949. Simon protected food stores from an
infestation of rats on board the HMS Amethyst during a siege.

"He was posthumously awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal, the
charity's animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross.

"The ship's Commander Stuart Hett is to lead a wreath-laying
ceremony at the Essex cemetery where Simon is buried. Simon
was awarded the Dickin Medal for bravery, instituted in
1943 by Maria Dickin CBE, the founder of veterinary charity
the PDSA, and was given the rank of Able Seaman.

"He suffered severe shrapnel wounds when HMS Amethyst came
under fire in a 101-day siege known as the Yangtze Incident
in which 17 marines were among the dead.

"He received a hero's welcome when the ship returned to
dock in Plymouth on 1 November 1949.  Simon died in quarantine
three weeks later and was buried with full military honours
at the PDSA Animal Cemetery in Ilford, Essex.

"Simon is the only cat among 62 animals to be awarded the
Dickin Medal. Other recipients include messenger pigeons,
horses and dogs."

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To read a related article in The Telegraph, see:
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  Wayne Homren, Editor

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