Able Seacat Simon is the only cat to win the Dickin Medal. The Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 in the United Kingdom by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in war. Maria Dickin was the founder of the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), a British veterinary charity. For more information on the PDSA go to http://www.pdsa.org.uk/ For more information on H.M.S Amethyst go to http://www.maritimequest.com

Able Seacat Simon I’m gonna tell you about Able Seacat Simon He lived aboard the goodship Amethyst The only cat to win a bravery medal His story goes like this: His ship was caught between the warring Chinese forces Came under fire from the Communists Seventeen dead and wounded twenty-five On the Yangtse River in April forty-nine Seacat Simon He fought, he loved, he caught The bravest little cat that went to sea He comforted the crew Though he was wounded too Able Seacat Simon He had a friend, ship’s dog called Peggy Between them they maintained crew morale The captain said they gave the ship an air of domesticity And could forget the heat and mosquitoes for a while Simon had been injured by the shelling But still he waged war against the rats The captain said if we ever Get out of here alive I’ll make sure there’s an award for this cat Seacat Simon He fought, he loved, he caught He made it feel like home on the ship He comforted the crew Terrier Peggy too Able Seacat Simon Three months on The Amethyst returned home And Simon became a big celebrity But his wounds never healed And the most courageous cat in his field Was buried with full honours of the military Seacat Simon He fought, he loved, he caught The bravest little cat that went to sea He was loved by the crew Won a medal too Able Seacat Simon © Nigel Quin