On March 27, 1945, Rifleman Khan was awarded the Dicken Medal for “Conspicuous gallantry or devotion to duty while serving in military conflict.”

Up to that point, the medal had mostly been awarded to pigeons, but by 1945 it was increasingly being given out to dogs.

You read that right. There are just some things we don’t learn in history class.

In fact, the first recipient of the Dicken Medal was a pigeon named White Vision. She flew for 9 hours in bad weather against heavy headwinds that led to the rescue of a stranded aircrew in 1943.

Dogs on duty

In 1942 the United Kingdom issued a call for dogs to help with the war effort. It’s actually something that many countries did (including the U.S.). And while some were mutts, it soon became clear that certain breeds were easier to train, depending on the terrain and duties, and German Shepherds (also called Alsatians) became the most popular.

While pigeons could deliver messages that potentially gave one side an enormous advantage during wartime, dogs were more often used for search and rescue missions. That’s how Rifleman Khan became a war hero.

War Dog 147

When the Railton family of Tolworth, Surrey heard about the need for animals to join the war effort, they offered their pet German Shepherd for service. Throughout his training, he was known simply as War Dog 147.

The dog became a member of the 6th Battalion Cameronians (also known as the “Scottish Rifles”) and was assigned to a handler named Lance Corporal James (Jimmy) Muldoon.

The dog got the nickname “Khan” from the Indian soldiers who joined the rifle brigade. And while he was trained to find explosives, but that’s not what he’s remembered for.

Saving a life

In November of 1944, Jimmy and Khan and the rest of the 6th Battalion arrived at Walcheren Island in the Dutch province of Zeeland. The goal was to push out the Nazi invaders whose presence had been interrupting important supply channels for troops.

But as they arrived, their boat came under heavy artillery fire and a direct hit threw the pair into the water.

Khan quickly made it to shore, but Jimmy was loaded down with a backpack that made it impossible to swim and was quickly dragging him under.

When Khan heard his handler struggle, he immediately ran back into the water to help him. Other members of the battalion looked on as Khan found a way to grab Jimmy by the neck of his uniform and drag him to shore, saving his life.

An award for bravery

The Cameronians who saw the act of bravery insisted that Khan be recognized for his heroic act. And in March of the following year, the dog – which had been “promoted” to “Rifleman” – received the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animal’s (PDSA) Dicken Medal.

Khan was returned to his family after the mission but was reunited with his handler at the ceremony.

The dog received the award from the Battalion Commander and marched in a parade with Jimmy the same day.

The citation for his bravery reads:

“For rescuing L/Cpl. Muldoon from drowning under heavy shell fire at the assault of Walcheren, November 1944, while serving with the 6th Cameronians (SR).”

A fitting conclusion

Even though Khan had returned home, when the Railton family saw the connection he had with Lance Corporal Muldoon, they offered to let Jimmy take the dog back to Scotland with him to raise as a pet.

He did. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Be sure to scroll down below to see a video showing some other animals (including a cat!) that have won the Dickson medal.

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Source: Imperial War Museum, Herald Scotland, People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), The Cameronians, YouTube – British Empire at War