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Army
dog awarded posthumous VC
A
GERMAN SHEPHERD Dog that disarmed a gunman and held rioters
at bay in separate incidents while serving with the British
Army in Bosnia-Herzegovina is to be posthumously awarded the
animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross.
The courage of ‘Sam’ will be recognised when the dog’s
handler, Sgt Ian Carnegie, is presented with the PDSA’s
Dickin Medal on Sam’s behalf at a ceremony next month.
Sam, who died of natural causes aged 10 two years ago, helped
Sgt Carnegie to defuse two flashpoints in 1998 while serving
with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps Dog Unit.
In the first incident, a volley of shots rang out as the 1st
Battalion The Royal Canadian Regiment patrolled Drvar. Troops
saw a gunman run into a bar.
In the medal citation, Sgt Carnegie said: "After a chase
Sam brought down the suspect and I disarmed him, retrieving
a loaded pistol." Six days later, again in Drvar, a mob
was besieging a compound where Serbs were taking refuge.
Sgt Carnegie said: "By threatening the mob with our pistols
and dogs we forced our way into the compound. We kept the rioters
at bay until reinforcements arrived."
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