Ricky
SpeciesDog
BreedBorder Collie/Old English Sheepdog cross
SexMale
Nation fromUnited Kingdom
EmployerBritish Army
Notable roleDogs in warfare / Detection dog
Years active1941–45
OwnerThe Litchfield family
Awards Dickin Medal

Ricky was a dog who received the Dickin Medal in 1947 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Second World War.[1]

Military service

During the Second World War, Ricky, a Border Collie/Old English Sheepdog cross, was purchased by the father of Sheila Litchfield-Stander for seven shillings and six pence in Hastings while he was on Home Guard duty. The dog had previously been owned by a family who found themselves destitute. Soon afterwards, the Litchfield family moved to Sedlescombe, and again in 1941 they moved to Kent near to Biggin Hill airbase. After suffering from food shortages due to the ongoing rationing, Ricky was offered to the War Office to become a war dog.[2][3]

He was assigned to Maurice Yelding (of the circus family) during his military service after graduating from the War Dogs Training School at Northaw in Hertfordshire.[2][4] Yelding and Ricky were assigned to the 279th Field Company, Royal Engineers of the 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division. In December 1944, they were in the Netherlands where they were assigned to mine clearance along the canals near Nederweert.[5] His handler would send letters home to his family, but they found out the duo's most famous action through a mention in dispatches. On 3 December 1944, Ricky found a number of land mines on the canals.[5] During the process of mine clearing, his section commander was killed and Ricky himself suffered serious head injuries.[6][7] Yelding expanded on this, saying that he and Ricky were both within 3 feet (0.91 m) of the mine when it exploded, and were in the middle of a mine field.[7] Despite this, the pair continued to clear the mines from the surrounding area.[8]

He was awarded a special collar by the War Office in recognition of his actions.[9] After the end of the war, the military offered his family £25 to retain Ricky but they refused and he was returned home.[2] It was the maximum amount allowed to be offered to retain a dog following war service.[7]

Subsequently, his family has produced a range of dog products in his name,[2] with Ricky's face on some of the packaging.[10]

Dickin medal

For his actions, Ricky was subsequently awarded the Dickin Medal for bravery by the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals. This is considered to be the animal's equivalent of the Victoria Cross.[11][12] His award was announced alongside that of another dog, Brian, in March 1947.[9] Their medals were presented to them by Air Chief Marshal Sir Frederick Bowhill.[13]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Dickin medal dogs". People's Dispensary for Sick Animals. Archived from the original on 12 February 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "The story of Ricky Litchfield". Ricky Litchfield Pet Products/Ricky Litchfield.com. 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  3. ↑ Fowler, Joshua (5 September 2012). "Bromley war hero pooch remembered in new book". Bromley Times. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  4. ↑ Long (2012): p. 59
  5. 1 2 Long (2012): p. 60
  6. ↑ "Animal war heroes statue unveiled". BBC News. 24 November 2004. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 Long (2012): p. 61
  8. ↑ "Royal Seal of Approval". Sky News. 24 November 2004. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  9. 1 2 "Dogs To Get The "V.C."...". Derby Evening Telegraph. Vol. CXIX, no. 20467. British Newspaper Archive. 29 March 1947. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "The Ricky Product Range". Ricky Litchfield Pet Products/Ricky Litchfield.com. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  11. ↑ "UK honors glow worm war heroes". CNN. 24 November 2004. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  12. ↑ Long, David (2012). The animals' VC: for gallantry and devotion: the PDSA Dickin Medal – inspiring stories of bravery and courage. London: Preface. ISBN 9781848093768.
  13. ↑ "Dogs V.C.s.". Sunday Post. No. 2176. British Newspaper Archive. 11 May 1947. Retrieved 13 September 2014.

References

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