Well Done, Judy The Pointer

And to end our week, we want to share another wonderful dog story!

Judy, a purebred pointer, began her service as a ship’s mascot on board the gunboat HMS Gnat in 1936.

It wasn’t the most auspicious start, as her tendency to fall overboard often forced the ship to stop to retrieve her. But she soon proved useful thanks to her acute hearing, alerting the British sailors to the presence of river pirates and hostile Japanese aircraft.

In 1942, she transferred to the HMS Grasshopper. When the gunboat was attacked by Japanese aircraft, the crew became stranded on an island in the South China Sea. The sailors were growing dangerously thirsty when they came across Judy standing next to a big hole she’d dug, full of fresh water. 

The crew was then captured — along with Judy — and taken to a prisoner-of-war camp in North Sumatra.

Frank Williams, a young British sailor, shared his scant prison rations with Judy, keeping them both alive, while Judy helped out by distracting camp guards who were otherwise intent on beating the helpless captives. Judy survived many more adventures — including gunshot wounds and alligator bites — before the war ended.

On her return to Britain, she was awarded the Dickin Medal for her service. 

Oh Judy, well done!