Gander

The Dickin Medal

GANDER, Sergeant

Regimental Mascot

Royal Rifles of Canada

Date of award - 15th August 2000.

For saving the lives of Canadian infantrymen during the Battle of Lye Mun on Hong Kong Island in December 1941. On 3 documented occasions (Pal aka) Gander, the Newfoundland mascot of the Royal Rifles of Canada, engaged the enemy as his regiment joined the Winnipeg Grenadiers, members of Battalion Headquarters 'C' Force and other Commonwealth troops in their courageous defence of the Island. Twice Gander's attacks halted the enemy's advance and protected groups of wounded soldiers. In a final act of bravery the war dog was killed in action gathering a grenade. Without Gander's intervention many more lives would have been lost in the assault.

Gander aka Pal, is the first dog in fifty-five years to be awarded the Dickin Medal, and the only dog, from Canada to receive the award.