Military cat. He was the recipient of the the PDSA's Dickin medal after being wounded in wartime, boosting the morale of his shipmates and courageously battling an infestation of rats during his meritorious service. He was a well loved member of the crew and officers, since he was so talented at targeting and neutralizing the rat population. He enjoyed presenting special gifts of dead rats in the beds of shipmates and taking a nap in the cap of the captain. He became close with Lt. Commander Ian Griffiths on the ship. Simon would show up to the sounds of him whistling, and the cat would follow Griffiths around during his rounds. The cat was on board when the PLA of Communist China fired on the HMS Amethyst, and Simon was seriously injured with burns and shrapnel wounds. The cat unexpectedly recovered, fought back a rat infestation on the ship and boosted morale. Simon became a celebrity in the British media and news all over the world, and received the "Animal Victoria Cross," the Dickin medal. Simon was the first and only cat to receive the award. Additionally, he was given the Blue Cross Medal, the Amethyst Campaign Medal, and the rank of "Able Seacat," after killing a rat known as "Mao Tse-tung." He received thousands of letters, and Lt. Stewart Hett had the job of "cat officer" in order to handle all of his mail. Simon received an honor every time the HMS Amethyst arrived at a port, and was also honored when the ship returned home. Simon tragically died of an infection of war wounds while in quarantine. His funeral was attended by hundreds and the entire crew of the HMS Amethyst, and Simon was buried with full military honors.
Military cat. He was the recipient of the the PDSA's Dickin medal after being wounded in wartime, boosting the morale of his shipmates and courageously battling an infestation of rats during his meritorious service. He was a well loved member of the crew and officers, since he was so talented at targeting and neutralizing the rat population. He enjoyed presenting special gifts of dead rats in the beds of shipmates and taking a nap in the cap of the captain. He became close with Lt. Commander Ian Griffiths on the ship. Simon would show up to the sounds of him whistling, and the cat would follow Griffiths around during his rounds. The cat was on board when the PLA of Communist China fired on the HMS Amethyst, and Simon was seriously injured with burns and shrapnel wounds. The cat unexpectedly recovered, fought back a rat infestation on the ship and boosted morale. Simon became a celebrity in the British media and news all over the world, and received the "Animal Victoria Cross," the Dickin medal. Simon was the first and only cat to receive the award. Additionally, he was given the Blue Cross Medal, the Amethyst Campaign Medal, and the rank of "Able Seacat," after killing a rat known as "Mao Tse-tung." He received thousands of letters, and Lt. Stewart Hett had the job of "cat officer" in order to handle all of his mail. Simon received an honor every time the HMS Amethyst arrived at a port, and was also honored when the ship returned home. Simon tragically died of an infection of war wounds while in quarantine. His funeral was attended by hundreds and the entire crew of the HMS Amethyst, and Simon was buried with full military honors.
Bio by: cm1016
Inscription
Im memory of Simon
Served in HMS Amethyst
May 1948 - November 1949
Awarded Dickin Medal August 1949
Died 28th November 1949
Throughout the Yangtze Incident
his behavior was of the highest order
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