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The PDSA Dickin Medal - the animals’ Victoria Cross - awarded to Simon, the ship’s cat aboard HMS Amethyst during the Yangtze Incident of 1949, has been returned to the Royal Navy.
Commodore S R Kirby, ADC Royal Navy, Commanding Officer, HMS Collingwood in Fareham, accepted the cat’s Medal at a special ceremony at the Naval base where it will form the centre piece of an exhibition dedicated to the survivors of the Yangtze Incident which took place 60 years ago. In his speech, Commodore Kirby referred to the invaluable presence of ship’s cat, Simon:
“In April 1949, HMS Amethyst came under heavy fire in the Yangtze River, her crew suffered fatalities and the ship was held prisoner on the River for 101 days. In that time Simon not only caught the rats that threatened the dwindling rations but he boosted the morale of the men in their greatest hour of need. The award of the PDSA Dickin Medal recognised Simon’s unique contribution and we are proud to have his Medal here at HMS Collingwood in this 60th anniversary year.”
PDSA Veterinary Surgeon, Holly Mitchell, from Portsmouth PDSA PetAid hospital, who attended the ceremony on behalf of PDSA, said: “Simon is the only cat to have received the PDSA Dickin Medal but that is not the only reason why he is regarded as special to PDSA. His actions aboard HMS Amethyst show the value of animal companionship in wartime.”
Veterans of the 1949 Yangtze Incident were also present including Lieutenant Commander Stewart Hett (Royal Navy, retired). A young Lieutenant at the time of the Incident, Stewart Hett was appointed Cat Officer and dealt with all the letters Simon received when news broke of his PDSA Dickin Medal award. “I remember Simon well,” recalls Lt. Commander Hett. “He began his time on Amethyst as the Captain’s cat but soon became a companion to everyone aboard ship. Simon was a comforting reminder of home when home seemed so very far away.”
Simon was badly injured when British warship HMS Amethyst came under fire from the Chinese Communist Forces as she made her way up the Yangtze River in April 1949. She was on a peaceful mission to relieve HMS Consort as guard ship at the British Embassy in Nanking when she was shelled and shot at leaving her crippled on the River bank. Held captive for 101 days the ship’s rations soon became overrun with rats and Simon’s prowess as a rat catcher helped protect the men’s food. It was for this skill and his devoted companionship that PDSA awarded Simon the PDSA Dickin Medal in November 1949.
When the ship made its historic escape down river in July 1949 and docked in her home port of Plymouth on 1 November, Simon was taken into quarantine in Surrey. Sadly he died before he could be presented with the Medal in ‘person’. It was said he died of the old injuries sustained when the ship was shelled, but many of his shipmates said he died of a broken heart.
Simon’s PDSA Dickin Medal is owned by Eaton Films of London. It is on loan to HMS Collingwood for 12 months.
PDSA Dickin Medal hero cat remembered 60 years after the famous Yangtze Incident
Commodore S R Kirby, ADC Royal Navy, Commanding Officer, HMS Collingwood in Fareham, accepted the cat’s Medal at a special ceremony at the Naval base where it will form the centre piece of an exhibition dedicated to the survivors of the Yangtze Incident which took place 60 years ago. In his speech, Commodore Kirby referred to the invaluable presence of ship’s cat, Simon:
“In April 1949, HMS Amethyst came under heavy fire in the Yangtze River, her crew suffered fatalities and the ship was held prisoner on the River for 101 days. In that time Simon not only caught the rats that threatened the dwindling rations but he boosted the morale of the men in their greatest hour of need. The award of the PDSA Dickin Medal recognised Simon’s unique contribution and we are proud to have his Medal here at HMS Collingwood in this 60th anniversary year.”
PDSA Veterinary Surgeon, Holly Mitchell, from Portsmouth PDSA PetAid hospital, who attended the ceremony on behalf of PDSA, said: “Simon is the only cat to have received the PDSA Dickin Medal but that is not the only reason why he is regarded as special to PDSA. His actions aboard HMS Amethyst show the value of animal companionship in wartime.”
Veterans of the 1949 Yangtze Incident were also present including Lieutenant Commander Stewart Hett (Royal Navy, retired). A young Lieutenant at the time of the Incident, Stewart Hett was appointed Cat Officer and dealt with all the letters Simon received when news broke of his PDSA Dickin Medal award. “I remember Simon well,” recalls Lt. Commander Hett. “He began his time on Amethyst as the Captain’s cat but soon became a companion to everyone aboard ship. Simon was a comforting reminder of home when home seemed so very far away.”
Simon was badly injured when British warship HMS Amethyst came under fire from the Chinese Communist Forces as she made her way up the Yangtze River in April 1949. She was on a peaceful mission to relieve HMS Consort as guard ship at the British Embassy in Nanking when she was shelled and shot at leaving her crippled on the River bank. Held captive for 101 days the ship’s rations soon became overrun with rats and Simon’s prowess as a rat catcher helped protect the men’s food. It was for this skill and his devoted companionship that PDSA awarded Simon the PDSA Dickin Medal in November 1949.
When the ship made its historic escape down river in July 1949 and docked in her home port of Plymouth on 1 November, Simon was taken into quarantine in Surrey. Sadly he died before he could be presented with the Medal in ‘person’. It was said he died of the old injuries sustained when the ship was shelled, but many of his shipmates said he died of a broken heart.
Simon’s PDSA Dickin Medal is owned by Eaton Films of London. It is on loan to HMS Collingwood for 12 months.
