Hero dog's medal set to sell for £18k after saving soldiers

South Wales Argus

23-05-2025

Judy was awarded a Dickin Medal, also known as an Animal Victoria Cross, for her actions thwarting a night-time terrorist attack on British officers in Palestine in 1946.
She also saved the life of her severely wounded brother Punch during the same incident.
The medal will go under the hammer at Noonans in June, with a guide price between £14,000 and £18,000.
(Image: Noonans)
Explaining Judy's heroics, Christopher Mellor-Hill, head of client liaison at the auction house, said: 'Judy and Punch belonged to Lieutenant-Colonel A. H. K. Campbell, the Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Jerusalem Military Court, and Lieutenant-Colonel H. G. G. Niven, the Adjutant General, who shared a house in a Jerusalem suburb.
'On the evening of August 5, 1946, at about half past ten, the two officers were relaxing at home with their two dogs.
'The front door was open. All was quiet and they had no suspicion that any danger was threatening them.
'Suddenly the dogs became aware of intruders within the compound. Racing into the darkness and barking furiously, they were met with a burst of sub-machine gun fire from one or possibly two terrorists within the barbed wire protected perimeter.
(Image: Noonans)
'Apparently, the intruders were stealthily creeping towards the house with the intent to kill the officers. The barking and gunfire, alerted the officers, thwarted the attack and thus saved their lives.
'Police and military parties arrived and, following a trail of blood, found the seriously wounded Punch. He had been hit four times and lay in a pool of blood, apparently dying. His sister, Judy, also covered in blood, stood protectively over him.'
The Superintendent of the P.D.S.A. Dispensary in Jerusalem arrived to find Punch had two serious wounds to his throat, and further wounds in his skull and groin – he had also lost almost a pint of blood.
To everyone's relief, Punch responded to treatment, and the Superintendent turned his attention to Judy who was covered in blood.
(Image: Noonans)
However, she was found to be unwounded except for a long bullet graze to her back. It is believed that while covering Punch's body protectively, she had stemmed the flow of blood from his wounds, leaving her covered in it.
The following morning nine explosive rounds were found in the garden, while a both dogs made a full recovery.
After undergoing quarantine, both dogs were presented with their Dickin Medals during the Royal Tournament at Olympia on June 14, 1947.
Mr Mellor-Hill said: 'The sale of a Dickin Medal is always hugely emotive and this story is no different reflecting bravery and courage as well as emphasising the great British tradition of the almost human-like relationship that dogs have for us and others.'