Jet of Iada

Jet of Iada

Mrs Babcock Cleaver with Jet of Iada wearing his Dickin Medal
Other name(s) Jet
Species Dog
Breed Alsatian
Sex Male
Born 21 July 1942
Mossley Hill, Liverpool
Died 18 October 1949
Resting place Calderstones Park, Liverpool
53°22′54″N 2°53′39″W / 53.38167°N 2.89417°W / 53.38167; -2.89417
Nation from United Kingdom United Kingdom
Notable role Dogs in warfare / Search and rescue dog
Owner Mrs Babcock Cleaver
Parents Sire: Jamie of Eggerness
Dam: Iada Dilah of Lilias
Awards Dickin Medal
RSPCA Medallion for Valor

Jet of Iada a.k.a. Jet (21 July 1942 – 18 October 1949) was a German Shepherd Dog, who assisted in the rescue of 150 people trapped under blitzed buildings.[1] He was a pedigree dog born in Liverpool, and served with the Civil Defence Services of London. He was awarded both the Dickin Medal[2] and the RSPCA's Medallion of Valor for his rescue efforts.[3]

Early life

Jet was born in Liverpool in the Iada kennel of Mrs Babcock Cleaver in July 1942. He was a black German Shepherd Dog, and in the kennel was initially called Jett, with his full pedigree name being Jet of Iada. He was loaned to be trained at the War Dogs School in Gloucester from the age of nine months, where he was trained in anti-sabotage work.[4][5][6] Following eighteen months work on airfields performing anti-sabotage duties he was returned to the school for further training in search and rescue duties where he was partnered with Corporal Wardle.[1]

They were relocated to London where Jet was known for calling out every night until the end of the air attacks.[6] Corporal Wardle and Jet were the first handler and dog to be used in an official capacity in Civil Defence rescue duties.[1]

Awards

He was awarded the Dickin Medal on 12 January 1945 for saving the lives of over fifty people trapped in bombed buildings.[1][3] The dedication read "For being responsible for the rescue of persons trapped under blitzed buildings while serving with the Civil Defence Services of London."[7] Following the war, he was returned to his owner in Liverpool.[8] The Dickin Medal is often referred to as the animal metaphorical equivalent of the Victoria Cross.[9]

On 15 August 1947, an explosion occurred in the William Pit near Whitehaven, Cumbria. Dogs trained in body recovery work were unavailable, so two dogs were sent from the RAF Police Dog School at Staverton, and Jet was collected from his owner on the journey north.[8][10] After his efforts helped save the rescuers he was awarded the RSPCA's Medallion of Valor.[3]

There is a memorial to Jet in the English flower garden of Calderstones Park, Liverpool near where he is buried.[3][4][11] This memorial was cleaned in July 2016 by pupils of Childwall Church of England Primary School and The Reader in celebration of Jet's Birthday. Also in attendance was 93 year old Lilias Ward (née Cleaver) Jet's former owner.[12]

Pedigree

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Int Ch. Cara V. Blasunberg of Welham
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hero of Picardy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cillallah of Picardy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Heroson of Kings
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Int Ch. Dovar V. Overstoyler of GD
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fanny of Ceara
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ch. Welham Susi V. Boll
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jamie of Eggerness
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Allei of Picardy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ch. Janitor of Picardy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beda V. Anderton of Picardy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beauty of Haddon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dominant of Picardy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Soceress of Haddon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rola V. Haus Shutting
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jet of Iada
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ch. Armin Ernalieb
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ch. Dolf of Ceara
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Int Ch. Seffe Von Blasienburg
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horst of Dundator
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ch. Benigh of Picardy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deirdre of Dundator
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Abba of Dundator
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Iada Dilah of Lilias
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Billo V. Amerbach
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ch. Chief of Chorltonville
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ali of Chorltonville
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jubilee of Stoneycroft
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ch. Odin of Penyghent
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jetta of Dysbrook
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Citah of Dysbrook
 
 
 
 
 
 

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Animals at War captions" (PDF). Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  2. ↑ "Dickin Medal dogs". People's Dispensary for Sick Animals. Archived from the original on 12 February 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 McIntyre-Brown, Arabella (2001). Liverpool: the First 1,000 years. Garlic Press Publishing Ltd. p. 106. ISBN 978-1-904099-00-0.
  4. 1 2 "Jet of Iada". Liverpool Museums. Archived from the original on 9 March 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
  5. ↑ "In Pictures: Heroic Dogs". BBC News. 17 May 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
  6. 1 2 Harris, Paul (17 May 2010). "The Magnificent Seven: Hero dogs that saved hundreds during the Blitz are honoured". Daily Mail. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
  7. ↑ Walker, Robyn (2009). Sergeant Gander: A Canadian Hero. Natural Heritage Books. p. 97. ISBN 978-1-55488-463-6.
  8. 1 2 Bryan, A. M. "Extracts from the Report on the Causes of, and Circumstances attending, the Explosion which occurred on the 15th. August 1947.". Retrieved 11 October 2010.
  9. ↑ Long, David (2012). The animals' VC: for gallantry and devotion: the PDSA Dickin Medal - inspiring stories of bravery and courage. London: Preface. ISBN 9781848093768.
  10. ↑ "Dogs Help in Death Pit Search". Hull Daily Mail (19267). British Newspaper Archive. 19 August 1947. Retrieved 13 September 2014. (Subscription required (help)).
  11. ↑ "Jet of Iada". UK National Inventory of War Memorials. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
  12. ↑ "New Generation of Fans for Jet the Dog". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
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