D-day Dogs: Remarkable true stories of heroic dogs
Incredible true stories of canine loyalty in the Second World War.There were dogs involved with the landings, dogs the soldiers could not bear to leave behind and dogs trained to patrol, protect and locate. The dogs sailed with the Merchant Navy and brought their boats into dangerous waters to retrieve the wounded or stranded. They were on land, in the air and on the water during the D-Day operation – playing their special part in every aspect.Through this inspiring short collection of the true stories of four of these canine heroes the remarkable achievements of the D-Day dogs are brought to life.
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D-Day Dogs
Remarkable true stories of heroic dogs
Isabel George
HarperTrueFriend
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First published by HarperTrueFriend 2015
FIRST EDITION
Text © Isabel George 2015
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Contents
D-Day was the largest amphibious operation in history. On 6 June 1944 a mighty Allied force descended on occupied France and in a matter of hours determined the freedom of the Western world. Operation Overlord was the most decisive invasion of the Second World War, involving over 150,000 British, Canadian and US troops. Under cover of darkness they reached the Normandy coast, some by air and others by sea, among them a fearless band of canines trained to do their duty for King and country. The D-Day dogs accompanied the men into battle and helped assure freedom and peace.
âDo you realise that by the time you wake in the morning 20,000 men may have been killed?â British Prime Minister Winston Churchill is said to have shared the anxiety of this moment with his wife, Clementine, on the eve of D-Day. Moments after midnight on 6 June 1944 the Allied assault upon Hitlerâs âFortress Europeâ had begun.
The operation was the culmination of two yearsâ meticulous planning and training, and had to succeed where the landing at Dieppe in August 1942 had so disastrously failed. There could be no repeat of the errors that turned the heavily defended shore of Dieppe into a killing field strewn with the bodies of thousands of British and Canadian troops. Many fell to the barrage of German gunfire before they even made it out of the convoy of landing craft as they raced towards the beach. Determined the enemy would never be given a chance like that again, the Allied leaders approached the D-Day plans with single-minded focus and rigid attention to logistical detail.
As the preparations for D-Day got underway, the War Officeâs request for civilian canine recruits to join up proved well timed. Dogs were already being used to aid the war effort, distinguishing themselves in battle alongside troops overseas and in the role of guard and protector on bases at home.
Brian, a lively Alsatian pup, was just two years old when Betty Fetch from Leicester, England, donated him to the war effort. It had not been an easy decision, but somehow Betty knew she had to find it in her heart to let Brian join the Army. He would not only be playing his part in bringing the conflict to an end; he would also be helping Betty â finding food to feed the family was a challenge, and there were often few scraps left for the dog. The Army promised its war dogs at least one good meal a day, so that made Bettyâs decision easier. She loved Brian and, given the dire circumstances of war, the Services seemed the best option for him. And besides, he would only be on loan. All the dogs had been promised safe passage home when it was all over. So with a heavy heart, Betty let Brian go to war.
Betty knelt down and put her arms around her dogâs neck. He snuggled up close to her as she whispered her goodbyes. She told him that he would be away for a while, but he would be fed and looked after by the soldiers. She told him that he would be coming back home as soon as the war was over, but for now his country needed him more than his family did, and so he must go and be very brave.
Brian left home to serve King and country, and as Betty dried her tears she could never have guessed that her beloved pet was destined to become a D-Day hero.
âWhat do you think about this fella? He enlisted with the name Brian, but he looks more like a Bing to me.â Lance Corporal Ken Bailey was a dog lover, and his time with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps had convinced him that military working dogs were more than just fireside companions; they were capable of unstinting devotion to duty and exceptional courage. âWell, if you lot agree, we have a new recruit and weâre going to call him Bing.â Ken looked directly into Bingâs big brown eyes as he said the name. âBing! Thatâs a name to be proud of, lad, as you start your new life today.â
