Thimble 98 - The Dickin Medal

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Awarded for Conspicuous gallantry
or devotion to duty
while serving in military conflict.

The PDSA Dickin Medal is recognised as the animals’ Victoria Cross.

It is awarded to animals displaying conspicuous gallantry or devotion to duty while serving or associated with any branch of the Armed Forces or Civil Defence Units. The Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 by Maria Dickin, founder of the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), a British veterinary charity.

The medal was awarded 54 times during the Second World War, to:

32 pigeons
18 dogs
3 horses
and 1 cat



Rip
awarded the Dickin Medal in 1945
for locating air raid victims of The Blitz

Some of the more recent recipients:
2000 - Gander, a Newfoundland who saved infantrymen during the Battle of Lye Mun.
Sept 11 - two Guide dogs, Salty and Roselle, who led their blind humans to safety and Search-and -Rescue dog, Apollo.

Image from The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)
of the U.S. State Department and the Museum of the City of New York
of the World Trade Center attacks. Photographer: Joel Meyerowitz.

You can find a full list of all medal recipients here on the PDSA website.

Thimble 68 - Rabbit Rabbit!

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It's considered good luck to wish "Rabbit Rabbit" on the first day of the month. This graphic is my rabbitty Peace wish, for this Chinese Year of the White Rabbit. :-)

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Thimble 67 - The Soldier's Kiss

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The Soldier's Kiss

by War Poet Henry Chappell (1874 -1937)

Only a dying horse! Pull off the gear,
And slip the needless bit from frothing jaws,
Drag it aside there, leave the roadway clear
The battery thunders on with scarce a pause.

Prone by the shell-swept highway there it lies
With quivering limbs as fast the life tide fails,
Dark films are closing o'er the faithful eyes
That mutely plead for aid where none avails.

Onward the battery roll, but one there speeds
Heedless of comrade's voice or bursting shell,
Back to the wounded friend who lonely bleeds
Beside the stony highway where it fell.

Only a dying horse! He swiftly kneels,
Lifts the limp head and hears the shivering sigh
Kisses his friend. While down his cheek there steals
Sweet pity's tear; ‘Goodbye Old Man, Goodbye'

No honours wait him, Medal, Badge or Star,
Though scarce could war a kindlier deed unfold;
He bears within his breast, more precious far
Beyond the gift of Kings, a heart of gold.

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Thimble 66 - Dove of Peace

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The Dove of Peace is a Christian symbol, but the olive branch it carries belongs to the Greek /Roman goddess of Peace - Eirene. In earliest Christian art the dove was used to symbolise spiritual peace. It was only later, when the dove was depicted carrying an olive branch, that it became a symbol for Peace in a more literal sense of non-violence. as a symbol for a more literal kind of Peace.

glitter-graphics.com

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Thimble 61 - Let me sow Love

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Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

st. Francis of Assisi, 13th century...

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Thimble 26 - friendship

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Thimble 9 - I'm a Peace Blogger

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I made all of these. You are welcome to save them to your blog to use for blogblast 2011. :-)

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Thimble 5 - Horse Memorial

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'Don't forget those who serve and suffer without voices...
the animals of war.'

Michelle Frost

This photo below is of a horse being offloaded from a ship in Port Elizabeth, Cape Colony, during the Anglo-Boer war.

This photo comes (courtesy of Wikipedia) from the book, Horses on board ship : a guide to their management (1902) by Hayes, Matthew Horace.

Port Elizabeth has a memorial to the horses of the Anglo-Boer war.

It's a beautiful statue that I've stopped to look at many times over the years. The words carved on the memorial always touch my heart...

THE GREATNESS OF A NATION
CONSISTS NOT SO MUCH UPON THE NUMBER OF ITS PEOPLE
OR THE EXTENT OF ITS TERRITORY
AS IN THE EXTENT AND JUSTICE OF ITS COMPASSION

ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION
IN RECOGNITION OF THE SERVICES OF THE GALLANT ANIMALS
WHICH PERISHED IN THE ANGLO BOER WAR 1899-1902

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