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Sam (died 2000) was an army dog who served with the
PDSA Dickin Medal, including "Roll of Honor" PDF
{{Dickin Medal 2000 animal deaths British Army animals Individual dogs Military animals Recipients of the Dickin Medal
Sam (died 2000) was an army dog who served with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps
The Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC), known as the Army Veterinary Corps (AVC) until it gained the royal prefix on 27 November 1918, is an administrative and operational branch of the British Army responsible for the provision, training and ca ...
Dog Unit. While serving in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and ...
in the 1990s, Sam helped to apprehend an armed man and also to hold back an armed mob besieging a compound where Serbs
The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are the most numerous South Slavic ethnic group native to the Balkans in Southeastern Europe, who share a common Serbian ancestry, culture, history and language.
The majority of Serbs live in their ...
were taking refuge. He received the Dickin Medal
The PDSA Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 in the United Kingdom by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in World War II. It is a bronze medallion, bearing the words "For Gallantry" and "We Also Serve" within a laurel wreath, carried ...
, the animals' equivalent of the Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
, in 2003 for these acts of bravery.
Life and career
Sam was aGerman Shepherd
The German Shepherd or Alsatian is a German breed of working dog of medium to large size. The breed was developed by Max von Stephanitz using various traditional German herding dogs from 1899.
It was originally bred as a herding dog, fo ...
that served with the Dog Unit of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps
The Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC), known as the Army Veterinary Corps (AVC) until it gained the royal prefix on 27 November 1918, is an administrative and operational branch of the British Army responsible for the provision, training and ca ...
. Sam and his handler, Sergeant Iain Carnegie, were part of the Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping comprises activities intended to create conditions that favour lasting peace. Research generally finds that peacekeeping reduces civilian and battlefield deaths, as well as reduces the risk of renewed warfare.
Within the United ...
force in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and ...
.
While patrolling in the town of Drvar
Drvar (, ) is a town and municipality located in Canton 10 of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The 2013 census registered the municipality as having a population of 7,036. It is situated in western Bos ...
in 1998 with the First Battalion of The Royal Canadian Regiment
, colors =
, identification_symbol_2 = Maple Leaf (2nd Bn pipes and drums)
, identification_symbol_2_label = Tartan
, identification_symbol_4 = The RCR
, identification_symbol_4_label = Abbreviation
, mar ...
, 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
The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are the most numerous South Slavic ethnic group native to the Balkans in Southeastern Europe, who share a common Serbian ancestry, culture, history and language.
The majority of Serbs live in their ...
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 theVictoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
, 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.
See also
*List of individual dogs
This is a list of individual famous actual dogs; for famous dogs from fiction, see List of fictional dogs.
Actors
Advertising
* Axelrod, Basset Hound, appeared in commercials and print ads for Flying "A" Service Station advertisements i ...
Notes
External links
PDSA Dickin Medal, including "Roll of Honor" PDF
{{Dickin Medal 2000 animal deaths British Army animals Individual dogs Military animals Recipients of the Dickin Medal