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Tich (1940–1959) was a mixed-breed military dog during the Second World War. She was awarded the Dickin Medal in 1949 for her actions during the war as a battalion mascot to the King's Royal Rifle Corps. The Dickin Medal is considered to be the animal's Victoria Cross. After the war she lived with her battalion handler at his home in the UK. After she died she was buried in the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA)'s Ilford Animal Cemetery. ==Military service== During the fighting in the Western Desert Campaign during the Second World War in 1941, a small cross-breed dog was found by soldiers of the 1st Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps. Named "Tich" and nicknamed "The Desert Rat", she acted as a mascot to the Battalion. In 1943, the dog was passed to Rifleman Thomas Walker. The dog accompanied Walker whilst on the front line, riding usually on the bonnet of a bren gun carrier or a jeep.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.rgjmuseum.co.uk/pages_object/obj_0009.asp )〕 In 1944, she was smuggled aboard the ship that took the battalion to Italy and whilst on board had puppies.〔 Walker was awarded the Military Medal for his work as a battlefield medic whilst under fire. On each occasion where he was in danger, Tich remained by his side. 1KRRC's commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel E.A.W. Williams recommended Tich for the Dickin Medal stating, "Her courage and devotion to duty were of very real and considerable value and her courageous example materially helped many men to keep their heads and sense of proportion in times of extreme danger. The sight of her put heart in the men as she habitually rode on the bonnet of her master’s jeep and refused to leave her post even when bringing in wounded under heavy fire."〔 The Dickin Medal is considered to be the animal's Victoria Cross.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.pdsa.org.uk/about-us/animal-bravery-awards/pdsa-dickin-medal )〕 Her Dickin Medal was dated 1 July 1949, with it being awarded to her by Major Peter Earle, MC, on 3 September 1949 at Wembley in front of eight thousand people during the Animals' Rally.〔 Her citation reads, "For loyalty, courage and devotion to duty under hazardous conditions of war 1941 to 1945, while serving with the 1st King's Rifle Corps in North Africa and Italy."〔(【引用サイトリンク】 Dickin Medal dogs )〕 The Dickin Medal is often referred to as the animal metaphorical equivalent of the Victoria Cross. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Tich (dog)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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