medal awarded to a canine who accomplished 20 parachute descents in World Battle Two has been bought for £140,000 at public sale together with different memorabilia.
The PDSA Dickin Medal for Gallantry – also called the Victoria Cross for animals – awarded to Rob, from Shropshire, was a part of a set together with photographs, books and a collar which went underneath the hammer on Wednesday.
Bought by medal auctioneer Noonans of Mayfair, London, the sale broke the earlier world report for a Dickin Medal which had been awarded to a pigeon for its gallantry throughout D-Day.
The medal was bought by Basil Bayne, the son of Rob’s authentic proprietor, with the proceeds to be given to the Taylor McNally Basis, which trains and educates on poultry husbandry.
Mr Bayne mentioned: “Wow, I’ve simply picked myself off the ground.
“I can’t consider the value however I’m so delighted that Rob’s story and legacy is held in such excessive respect and that the necessary roll that him and plenty of different animals have performed in battle is being recognised.”
Rob, a black and white collie-retriever, lived with the Bayne household in Tetchill, Shropshire, as a farm canine earlier than being volunteered as a struggle canine in 1942.
After seeing motion within the North Africa marketing campaign, Rob turned the primary struggle canine to serve with the SAS from September 1943, parachuting in on sabotage missions in Italy.
The Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 by The Individuals’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) founder Maria Dickin, and is the best award an animal can obtain while serving in navy battle.
The medal has been awarded 74 instances since then, with canines, pigeons, horses and a cat honoured.
When Rob obtained his award, his proprietor, Edward Bayne, instructed the Oban Occasions: “He used to assist settle the chicks of their homes at evening, selecting them up in his mouth after they had strayed away – he had an exquisite mouth – and tucking them in underneath their moms.”
Christopher Mellor-Hill, head of shopper liaison at Noonans, mentioned: “We knew this was an incredible Dickin Medal and actually believed it could take the world report comfortably however we’re actually happy to see Rob the Canine make such a spectacular ‘parachute’ touchdown in smashing the Dickin Medal (Animal VC) world report by greater than six instances.
“Over time books have been written about him and he even featured on the entrance web page of the Radio Occasions, we consider this to be a very powerful Dickin Medal to ever be bought at public sale.”
