During the Blitz of London in 1940, many people were killed by German bombs. Sometimes they left pets behind. After a bombing raid, a mixed breed terrier was found amongst the ruins. An Air Raid Warden named King fed the dog some scraps and the little dog followed him home. “Rip” became the unofficial mascot of the Southhill Street Air Raid Patrol. King was surprised to find that not only was Rip a good mascot, but he had an instinctive ability to find victims buried under the rubble. Wherever he scratched with this paws, you could be sure someone was beneath. He became the first search and rescue dog and his work inspired the British to start training dogs to search for bodies. In the next twelve months, he helped rescue over 100 Londoners. In 1945, he was awarded the Dickin Medal, the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross. The citation read “For locating many air raid victims during the Blitz of 1940.” He wore it proudly on his collar. When he died in 1946, his tombstone read “Rip, D.M. We also serve…”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rip_(dog)
https://ww2db.com/other.php?other_id=55
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