A song about the only cat to win a medal for bravery. Special thanks to http://www.maritimequest.com for allowing me to use their lovely picture of Simon.
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Nigel Quin
Nigel Quin 2012
September 12, 2012
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