Showing posts with label Dickin Medal - The Victoria Cross For War Animals.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dickin Medal - The Victoria Cross For War Animals.. Show all posts

2/25/2010

HEROIC TREO, D.M. By Uncle Monty.




HEROIC TREO, D.M.
Britain’s Bomb-Sniffing Hero.
By Uncle Monty.
DM Photos By Alex Albion.
Part 1 of 2.
***
Everybody at yesterday’s very unusual Dickin Medal Ceremony
was there all because of Heroic Treo, the British Army’s retired

bomb sniffing black labrador who was formerly based out
at Afghanistan with his close friend and army handler
Sergeant Dave Heyhoe.

H.R.H. Princess Alexandra of Kent.
***
Heroic Treo was awarded The Dickin Medal, the
Victory Cross for brave and life-saving war animals like
Treo, by H.R.H. Princess Alexandra of Kent, 73, The Hon.
Lady Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel Angus
Ogilvy, KG, GCVO, who I was also personally pleased to first
meet and to have a right royal chat with and to photograph
her upfront at the extraordinary and packed gathering for
the invitation-only medal ceremony held at London’s
impressive Imperial War Museum (IWM).
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: Britain's Princess Alexandra of Kent :
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The Dickin Medal Awarded Heroic Treo.
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L to R: BBC-TV's News Reporter John Blain,
Sargeant Dave Heyhoe, Major Graham Shannon,
and BBC Cameraman at IWM.
***
Waiting, Was She, For The
Arrival Of The Princess.
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Royal Chelsea Pensioners at IWM.
***
Sgt. Heyhoe w/Heroic Treo & His Sons.
***
The British national newspapers, television and
radio - including, of course, the Internet - are all
abuzz this morning with the happy news of Heroic
Treo's well-deserving Dickin Medal and yesterday's
'Red Letter Day' for both him and British Army
Sargeant Dave Heyhoe.
***
And, what exactly has "Treo & Company" done to
be given such a public fanfare and great honour?
Well, it's something like this ... I'll let Her Royal
Highness herself proudly tell us why:
.

"I am delighted to have been asked to present the
PDSA Dickin Medal to Treo, a wonderful brave Arms
and Explosive Search dog responsible for saving the
lives of civilians and soldiers alike in Helmand
Province, Afghanistan.
.
"Treo is the most deserving recipient of the award;
his courageous actions epitomise the spirit of the
Dicken Medal and the vision of its creator Maria
Dickin. Established in 1943, the Dickin Medal is re-
cognised worldwide as the animals' Victoria Cross
(V.C.): the highest honour for courage in conflict,
recognition for the bravest of the brave.
.
"Treo is the hero of the hour and this remarkable
story reminds us all how animals also serve: as
they did yesterday and will again tomorrow.
***
BRAVO to Heroic Treo, D.M. and his good army
friend and handler Sargeant Dave Heyhoe, who has
now provided a safe and permanent family home at his
own home for retired Treo from operational military
tasks. He is not just "the hero of the hour," your Royal
Highness, but rather the hero of our times that will
live beyond Heroic Treo's eventual pet grave and
our own lives, too. BRAVO and Three Cheers,
I declare and gladly say!!
.
***
Very truly, Uncle Monty.
+Eighth Day of Lent, 2010.
***
Next Part Two: "Animals In War."
By Uncle Monty.
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>> Above: Lead photo is that of BBC-TV's News Reporter
John Blain and I covering yesterday's Dickin Medal event
at London's Imperial War Museum. I might also add that
the rare event was much like a media frenzy of reporters,
news photographers, broadcasters, and online bloggers all
jostling and competeing with each other to cover Heroic
Treo and his unpretentious and down-to-earth friend
and handler British Sargeant Dave Heyhoe << .
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World Blog Stories on Sgt. Heyhoe & Treo.
http://www.wopular.com/newsracks/sergeant+dave+heyhoe/blogs. .
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{ Click on any image to Enlarge }
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