Sadie
Encyclopedia
Sadie, a black Labrador Retriever
, is a recipient of the Dickin Medal
, the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross
. She was awarded for detecting an explosive device outside the United Nations
headquarters in Kabul
in November 2005, and was awarded by the Princess Alexandra
on 6 February 2007. Her handler at the time of the action which resulted in the award was Lance Corporal Karen Yardley.
, Iraq
, and Afghanistan
and was part of the 102 Military Working Dog Support Unit of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps
(RAVC) based in Sennelager
, Germany. She has served for two years and has completed two tours of duty with her handler Lance Corporal Karen Yardly (female RAVC soldiers can serve on the front lines, unlike infantry).
Following her military service and the awarding of a Dickin Medal
, she retired to live with her handler.
headquarters in Kabul
following a suicide attack
. Sadie picked up the scent of a second device through a 2 foot (0.6096 m) thick concrete wall, giving disposal experts the opportunity to defuse the bomb which was a pressure cooker filled with TNT. The bomb had been covered with sandbag
s, in order to kill and injure rescue workers following the suicide attack. For her actions, Sadie was awarded the Dickin Medal
. Awarded by the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, it is considered to be the animal's Victoria Cross
.
L/Cpl Yardley described the situation; "As Sadie went towards the compound's wall onto the street she picked up a scent. She sat down and stared directly into the wall, which meant there was something right on the other side. I immediately shouted for everyone to get out of the area."
Sadie's Dickin Award citation reads as follows: "Sadie gave a positive indication near a concrete blast wall and multinational personnel were moved to a safe distance. At the site of Sadie's indication, bomb disposal operators later made safe an explosive device. The bomb was designed to inflict maximum injury." Sadie became the 61st recipient of the medal, which she received from Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra
on 6 February 2007 in a ceremony at the Imperial War Museum
in London, England. Fellow military dog Lucky was awarded posthumously at the ceremony for his work in Malaya in 1951. Marilyn Rydström, of the PDSA, said of Sadie's award; "The Dickin Medal is the highest award any animal can receive for bravery in the line of duty and Sadie is a very worthy recipient", while a Ministry of Defence
spokesman said "Hundreds of our boys owe their lives to Sadie's keen nose and we're very proud of her."
At a ceremony to commemorate the restoration of the PDSA
's Ilford Animal Cemetery in December 2007, Sadie attended with other recent winners of the Dickin Medal as the cemetery is the final resting place of several previous medallists.
During the run up to the first Sun Military Awards
in 2008, The Sun suggested that had it been awarded the previous year, that it probably would have gone to Sadie and her handler.
Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. A breed characteristic is webbed paws for swimming, useful for the breed's original purpose of retrieving fishing nets. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog by registered ownership in Canada, the United...
, is a recipient of the Dickin Medal
Dickin Medal
The Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 in the United Kingdom by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in war. It is a bronze medallion, bearing the words "For Gallantry" and "We Also Serve" within a laurel wreath, carried on a ribbon of striped green, dark brown and pale blue...
, the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
. She was awarded for detecting an explosive device outside the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
headquarters in Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
in November 2005, and was awarded by the Princess Alexandra
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy is the youngest granddaughter of King George V of the United Kingdom and Mary of Teck. She is the widow of Sir Angus Ogilvy...
on 6 February 2007. Her handler at the time of the action which resulted in the award was Lance Corporal Karen Yardley.
Military service
Trained in Leicestershire, Sadie served in BosniaBosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and was part of the 102 Military Working Dog Support Unit of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps
Royal Army Veterinary Corps
The Royal Army Veterinary Corps is an administrative and operational branch of the British Army responsible for the provision, training and care of animals. It is a small but technically competent corps forming part of the Army Medical Services...
(RAVC) based in Sennelager
Sennelager
Sennelager is a village in Germany that forms part of the City of Paderborn. It is notable by the presence of a British army barracks, where the 20th Armoured Brigade are currently situated...
, Germany. She has served for two years and has completed two tours of duty with her handler Lance Corporal Karen Yardly (female RAVC soldiers can serve on the front lines, unlike infantry).
Following her military service and the awarding of a Dickin Medal
Dickin Medal
The Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 in the United Kingdom by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in war. It is a bronze medallion, bearing the words "For Gallantry" and "We Also Serve" within a laurel wreath, carried on a ribbon of striped green, dark brown and pale blue...
, she retired to live with her handler.
Dickin Medal
In November 2005 forces serving with NATO's International Security Assistance Force were involved in two separate attacks. Sadie and her handler, L/Cpl Karen Yardley, were deployed to search for explosive devices outside the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
headquarters in Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
following a suicide attack
Suicide attack
A suicide attack is a type of attack in which the attacker expects or intends to die in the process.- Historical :...
. Sadie picked up the scent of a second device through a 2 foot (0.6096 m) thick concrete wall, giving disposal experts the opportunity to defuse the bomb which was a pressure cooker filled with TNT. The bomb had been covered with sandbag
Sandbag
A sandbag is a sack made of hessian/burlap, polypropylene or other materials that is filled with sand or soil and used for such purposes as flood control, military fortification, shielding glass windows in war zones and ballast....
s, in order to kill and injure rescue workers following the suicide attack. For her actions, Sadie was awarded the Dickin Medal
Dickin Medal
The Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 in the United Kingdom by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in war. It is a bronze medallion, bearing the words "For Gallantry" and "We Also Serve" within a laurel wreath, carried on a ribbon of striped green, dark brown and pale blue...
. Awarded by the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, it is considered to be the animal's Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
.
L/Cpl Yardley described the situation; "As Sadie went towards the compound's wall onto the street she picked up a scent. She sat down and stared directly into the wall, which meant there was something right on the other side. I immediately shouted for everyone to get out of the area."
Sadie's Dickin Award citation reads as follows: "Sadie gave a positive indication near a concrete blast wall and multinational personnel were moved to a safe distance. At the site of Sadie's indication, bomb disposal operators later made safe an explosive device. The bomb was designed to inflict maximum injury." Sadie became the 61st recipient of the medal, which she received from Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy
Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy is the youngest granddaughter of King George V of the United Kingdom and Mary of Teck. She is the widow of Sir Angus Ogilvy...
on 6 February 2007 in a ceremony at the Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. The museum was founded during the First World War in 1917 and intended as a record of the war effort and sacrifice of Britain and her Empire...
in London, England. Fellow military dog Lucky was awarded posthumously at the ceremony for his work in Malaya in 1951. Marilyn Rydström, of the PDSA, said of Sadie's award; "The Dickin Medal is the highest award any animal can receive for bravery in the line of duty and Sadie is a very worthy recipient", while a Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
spokesman said "Hundreds of our boys owe their lives to Sadie's keen nose and we're very proud of her."
At a ceremony to commemorate the restoration of the PDSA
PDSA
The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals is a veterinary charity in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1917 by Maria Dickin to provide care for sick and injured animals of the poor...
's Ilford Animal Cemetery in December 2007, Sadie attended with other recent winners of the Dickin Medal as the cemetery is the final resting place of several previous medallists.
During the run up to the first Sun Military Awards
The Sun Military Awards
The Sun Military Awards is an annual awards ceremony which honours members of the British armed forces and civilians involved with the forces. The Millies were created by His Royal Highness Prince Charles. The awards are organised and sponsored by The Sun newspaper.During the televised ceremony,...
in 2008, The Sun suggested that had it been awarded the previous year, that it probably would have gone to Sadie and her handler.