Lucky (war dog) facts for kids
| Other name(s) | 3610 AD |
|---|---|
| Species | Dog |
| Breed | German Shepherd Dog |
| Sex | Male |
| Nation from | United Kingdom |
| Employer | Royal Air Force |
| Notable role | Dogs in warfare / Detection dog |
| Awards |  Dickin Medal |
Lucky was a brave German Shepherd Dog who received a very special award called the Dickin Medal in 2007. This medal is like the highest honor for animals who show amazing bravery, similar to the Victoria Cross for humans. Lucky earned his medal for his important work during a conflict called the Malayan Emergency.
Contents
Lucky: A Hero Dog in Action
His Important Military Service
Lucky was a German Shepherd Dog trained by the Royal Air Force (RAF) to track down people. His RAF ID number was 3610 AD. Lucky was one of four special dogs sent to help during the Malayan Emergency. This was a time of conflict in Malaysia between 1949 and 1952.
The other three brave dogs were named Bobbie, Jasper, and Lassie. They were used to track opposing groups in the thick jungles of Malaysia. For example, they helped capture a person named Lan-Jang-San in February 1951. These dogs worked with different army groups, including the Gurkha Rifles and the Coldstream Guards. During this time, Lucky's handler, or human partner, was Corporal Beval Austin Stapleton. Lucky was the only one of the four dogs who survived their time in Malaysia.
The Dickin Medal: An Animal's Highest Honor
Lucky was given the Dickin Medal after he had passed away. The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) awarded it to him on February 6, 2007. The ceremony took place at the Imperial War Museum in London. Another brave dog named Sadie also received the medal that day.
The Dickin Medal is often called the animal's version of the Victoria Cross. This is a very high award for bravery given to human soldiers. Princess Alexandra presented the medals. Corporal Beval Austin Stapleton, Lucky's former handler, accepted the medal for Lucky.
Corporal Stapleton said, "Every minute of every day in the jungle we trusted our lives to those four dogs, and they never let us down." He added, "Lucky was the only one of the team to survive our time in the Malayan jungle and I'm so proud of the old dog today. I owe my life to him." Lucky's medal was given on behalf of all four RAF tracker dogs who served in Malaysia between 1949 and 1952.
See also
