Jet (dog)
Encyclopedia
Jet of Iada aka Jet was an Alsatian
, who assisted in the rescue of 150 people trapped under blitzed
buildings. He was a pedigree dog born in Liverpool, and served with the Civil Defence Services of London. He was awarded both the Dickin Medal
and the RSPCA's Medallion of Valor for his rescue efforts.
in the Iada kennel of Mrs Babcock Cleaver in July 1942. He was a black Alsatian
, and in the kennel was initially called Jett, with his full pedigree name being Jet of Iada. He was loaned to be trained at the War Dogs School in Gloucester
from the age of nine months, where he was trained in anti-sabotage work. Following eighteen months work on airfields performing anti-sabotage duties he was returned to the school for further training in search and rescue duties where he was partnered with Corporal Wardle.
They were relocated to London where Jet was known for calling out every night until the end of the air attacks. Corporal Wardle and Jet were the first handler and dog to be used in an official capacity in Civil Defence rescue duties.
on January 12, 1945 for saving the lives of over fifty people trapped in bombed buildings. The dedication read "For being responsible for the rescue of persons trapped under blitzed buildings while serving with the Civil Defence Services of London." Following the war, he was returned to his owner in Liverpool.
On 15 August 1947, an explosion occurred in the William Pit near Whitehaven
, Cumbria
. Dogs trained in body recovery work were unavailable, so two dogs were sent from the RAF Police Dog School at Staverton, and Jet was collected from his owner on the journey north. After his efforts helped save the rescuers he was awarded the RSPCA's Medallion of Valor.
There is a memorial to Jet in the English flower garden of Calderstones Park
, Liverpool near where he is buried.
German Shepherd Dog
The German Shepherd Dog , also known as an Alsatian or just the German Shepherd, is a breed of large-sized dog that originated in Germany. The German Shepherd is a relatively new breed of dog, with its origin dating to 1899. As part of the Herding Group, the German Shepherd is a working dog...
, who assisted in the rescue of 150 people trapped under blitzed
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
buildings. He was a pedigree dog born in Liverpool, and served with the Civil Defence Services of London. He was awarded both 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...
and the RSPCA's Medallion of Valor for his rescue efforts.
Early life
Jet was born in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
in the Iada kennel of Mrs Babcock Cleaver in July 1942. He was a black Alsatian
German Shepherd Dog
The German Shepherd Dog , also known as an Alsatian or just the German Shepherd, is a breed of large-sized dog that originated in Germany. The German Shepherd is a relatively new breed of dog, with its origin dating to 1899. As part of the Herding Group, the German Shepherd is a working dog...
, and in the kennel was initially called Jett, with his full pedigree name being Jet of Iada. He was loaned to be trained at the War Dogs School in Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
from the age of nine months, where he was trained in anti-sabotage work. Following eighteen months work on airfields performing anti-sabotage duties he was returned to the school for further training in search and rescue duties where he was partnered with Corporal Wardle.
They were relocated to London where Jet was known for calling out every night until the end of the air attacks. Corporal Wardle and Jet were the first handler and dog to be used in an official capacity in Civil Defence rescue duties.
Awards
He was awarded the Dickin MedalDickin 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...
on January 12, 1945 for saving the lives of over fifty people trapped in bombed buildings. The dedication read "For being responsible for the rescue of persons trapped under blitzed buildings while serving with the Civil Defence Services of London." Following the war, he was returned to his owner in Liverpool.
On 15 August 1947, an explosion occurred in the William Pit near Whitehaven
Whitehaven
Whitehaven is a small town and port on the coast of Cumbria, England, which lies equidistant between the county's two largest settlements, Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, and is served by the Cumbrian Coast Line and the A595 road...
, Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
. Dogs trained in body recovery work were unavailable, so two dogs were sent from the RAF Police Dog School at Staverton, and Jet was collected from his owner on the journey north. After his efforts helped save the rescuers he was awarded the RSPCA's Medallion of Valor.
There is a memorial to Jet in the English flower garden of Calderstones Park
Calderstones Park
- External links :* * * * *...
, Liverpool near where he is buried.