War dog’s gallantry medal and memorabilia sells for £140,000 at auction

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A medal awarded to a dog who completed 20 parachute descents in the Second World War has been sold for £140,000 at auction along with other memorabilia. Sold by medal auctioneer Noonans of Mayfair, London, the sale broke the previous world record for a Dickin Medal which had been awarded to a pigeon for its gallantry during D-Day. The Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 by The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals founder Maria Dickin, and is the highest award an animal can receive whilst serving in military conflict. When Rob received his award, his owner, Edward Bayne, told the Oban Times: “He used to help settle the chicks in their houses at night, picking them up in his mouth when they had strayed away – he had a wonderful mouth – and tucking them in under their mothers.” Christopher Mellor-Hill, head of client liaison at Noonans, said: “We knew this was an amazing Dickin Medal and truly believed it would take the world record comfortably but we are really pleased to see Rob the Dog make such a spectacular ‘parachute’ landing in smashing the Dickin Medal world record by more than six times.