One of the Sherman tank crew offers light to a local Italian girl for her cigarette in the town of Cava, near Salerno, while others look on with delight - September 24, 1943.
 


Sherman tank crew

A British soldier is escorting two German prisoners on a country road near the eastern Dutch town of Hengelo. 
On the left - an American made British M4 "Sherman" tank.

Two German POWs

"Able Seacat" Simon, awarded the Dickin Medal for his courageous service in continuing to combat the rat infestation on the ship in spite of receiving serious wounds from shrapnel in the course of the Yangtze Incident, 1948.

The Dickin Medal - the "animal Victoria Cross" was instituted by a British animal charity, the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, in 1943, to mark conspicuous gallantry on the part of animals in the course of armed conflict in the armed forces or in civil defence.  Some 65 awards of the medal have been made, mainly in relation to WW2.   Most of the recipients have been dogs or pigeons; some horses have also received the medal; Simon is the only cat.

Simon survived the Yangtze Incident, but contracted a viral infection in quarantine back in the UK, and died of complications of that infection, made worse by the effects of his battle wounds, in 1949.  He is buried in the PDSA animal cemetery at Ilford, Essex, England.  May he sit on the Right Thigh of God ... Best regards, JR.

BTW - the stupid Netnanny on the forum side would not let me post the word "Dickin".  As to why, I leave to your imagination.  I shall be interested to see what happens here ... JR. 