FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Simon ~ 18 May 2020

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[Kathy in Alaska]

 

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Simon

Info from here.

           

Thanks to Stonewall Jackson for the heads up on Simon! 

Simon was found wandering the dockyards of Hong Kong in March 1948 by 17 year-old Ordinary Seaman George Hickinbottom, a member of the crew of the British frigate HMS Amethyst stationed in the city in the late 1940s. At this stage, it is thought Simon was approximately a year old, and was very undernourished and unwell. Hickinbottom smuggled the cat aboard ship, and Simon soon ingratiated himself with the crew and officers, particularly as he was adept at catching and killing the rats, which infested the lower decks. Simon rapidly gained a reputation for cheekiness, leaving presents of dead rats in sailors' beds and sleeping in the captain's cap.

The crew viewed Simon as a lucky mascot, and when the ship's commander changed later in 1948, the outgoing Ian Griffiths left the cat for his successor Bernard Skinner, who took an immediate liking to the friendly cat. However, Skinner's first mission in command of the Amethyst was to travel up the Yangtze River to Nanking to replace the duty ship there, HMS Consort . Halfway up the river the ship became embroiled in the "Yangtze incident", when Chinese communist gun batteries opened fire on the frigate. One of the first rounds tore through the Captain's cabin, killing Skinner and seriously wounding Simon.

The badly wounded cat crawled on deck, and was rushed to the medical bay, where the ship's surviving medical staff cleaned his burns and removed four pieces of shrapnel from Simon, who was not expected to last the night. He did manage to survive however and returned to his former duties in spite of the dislike he faced from the new captain. Whilst beached in the river the ship had become overrun with rats, and Simon took on the task of removing them with vigour, as well as being used in the sick bay to raise the morale of wounded teenage sailors.

Following the ship's escape from the river, Simon became an instant celebrity, lauded in British and World news and presented with the "Animal VC ", the Dickin Medal as well as a Blue Cross medal, and Amethyst campaign medal and the fanciful rank of "Able Seacat". Thousands of letters were written to him, so much that one of Amethyst officers was detailed solely to answer Simon's post. At every port Amethyst stopped at on its route home, Simon was presented with honour, and a special welcome was made for him at Plymouth in November when the ship returned. Simon was however, like all animals entering the UK, subject to quarantine regulations and spent his time in an animal centre in Surrey.

There Simon contracted a virus and, despite the attentions of medical staff and thousands of well-wishers, passed away on November 28, 1949 from a complication of the viral infection caused by his war wounds. Hundreds, including the entire crew of HMS Amethyst attended his funeral in Ilford in East London, and his gravestone reads:
 

IN MEMORY OF
"SIMON"
SERVED IN
H.M.S. AMETHYST
MAY 1948 - SEPTEMBER 1949
AWARDED DICKIN MEDAL
AUGUST 1949
DIED 28TH NOVEMBER 1949.
THROUGHOUT THE YANGTZE INCIDENT
HIS BEHAVIOUR WAS OF THE HIGHEST ORDER

 

 

July 17, 1949: Crewmen of HMS Amethyst F-116 seen while trapped on Rose Island during the Yangtze Incident.

Back row from left to right: Townsend, Augustyn, Parish, Hutchinson, Jones, Wright, White (holding Able Seacat Simon), Bryson, Chare, MacNamara, A. Williams, Murphy and Keicher. 2nd row from left to right: Bannister, McCarthy, Nolan, Saunders, P. Jones, Delve, Munson, Williams and Wilson. Front row from left to right: McClean (?), Griffiths, Wells, McCullough and Guardsman Peggy (the ship's dog). Peggy and Simon were both awarded the Distinguished Amethyst Campaign Ribbon (Photo courtesy of Lt. Commander K. Stewart Hett, M.B.E., R.N. Ret.)

A Personal Tribute to Able Seacat Simon D.M., R.N. Within the recorded History of England, there have been many stories and epitaphs written about our nation's favourite pet, the cat. Amongst them, one stands out. A black and white tom, whose name was “Simon”. He alone, was the recipient of the animal equivalent of the “Victoria Cross” for bravery, that of the Dickin Medal awarded by the PDSA (Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals).

Simon, a stray kitten, was rescued from Stonecutters Island in Hong Kong in May 1948 by one of the crew of HMS Amethyst, Ordinary Seaman George Hickinbottom. His destiny had, at that moment been sealed. On 20th April 1949 the Amethyst was on her way up the Yangtze River to relieve the Destroyer HMS Consort in Nanking. She was on her “lawful and peaceful occasions”. During the outrage of the attack on the ship that followed, “Simon” was knocked unconscious and seriously wounded. He sustained multiple shrapnel wounds, his whiskers burnt off and bleeding gashes on both his back legs. He was not expected to survive.

The gentle hands of one of his shipmates, retrieved him from the debris. Much to the relief of the crew, very gradually nature did her work and Simon recovered. This stalwart cat was back on parade. Nothing could have given our lads more pleasure and boosted their moral, than to see him on his daily inspections of his ship and to have had him curl up, purring, on their hammocks.

The special comfort he gave to those that were sick or injured during the long and desperate months that followed cannot be forgotten. Respect for him grew with his daily duty to protect the dwindling food supply from the ever present threat of rats. Although recovering from his wounds, he never tired in the grim struggle, to clear his ship of vermin. Someone on board the Amethyst, was heard to say “that cat deserves a medal” how prophetic this turned out to be!

The exploits of this valiant cat became public news here at home in England. Many a letter was written, enquiring after the health of Simon, even tins of Sardines, which were his favourite, were sent to him. Simon came home, with his ship to England. I was taken by my Grandfather to see Amethyst on her arrival in Devonport and to meet Simon. At only four years old, whilst in Quarantine, on November the 28th 1949 Simons spirit, slipped quietly away to sea. He was buried in The PDSA Animal Cemetery at Ilford. As one of the many who avidly listened for news of him all those years ago.

I am proud to offer this tribute to the cat that came to mean so much to us all. For “Simon”, so long gone from our lives, but never absent from our hearts.

Robert (Bob) W. Green (May 2008)

 

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[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[ExTexasRedhead]

AFTERMATH OF PEARL HARBOR ATTACK & DECLASSIFIED FOOTAGE RELEASED IN 1942

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISoLLpsWTtE

[SkyDancer]

~ Good Evening ~

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~ Good Evening ~

~ Welcome To My World ~

I’m Down There Somewhere

[Kathy in Alaska]

Hello Veterans, wherever you are!!

[mountainlion]

Cats are quite a bit bigger here, Mountain lions and such. They do not like dogs so they tend to stay away which is a good thing.

Been warm so the snow is gone. According to the calendar the days will start getting shorter soon.

[Kathy in Alaska]

~ Hall of Heroes: Simon ~

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[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...was today a Penny and Blue Day?

Hiking and riding?

We have had mostly sun and blue sky today. I even sat out on the deck for 30 minutes between chores. It was loverly.

[left that other site]

Even though it was lovely out, we didn’t do too much. We did, however, go for a little ride in the car. Since March 15th, I have only gone 95 miles in my car. I used to do that every day!

I burned a whole tank of gas on Blue yesterday. Time to fill up again for another voyage to nowhere. LOL.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ETR, and thank you for this link...I started watching and will continue a little later.

Any openings starting in your area?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Janey…((HUGS))...hope things will start opening soon. Maybe you will be able to fly the parachute folks in the near future.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Blue must have been happy to stretch her tires.

And Penny got to go for a car ride.

I am having to make the effort to remember to start my car every couple days and to also take a drive just to keep her in shape. I’ve already had 2 dead batteries near the start of the mess because I forgot about driving.

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

May 18

The Gift of Peace

Bible in a Year:

• 1 Chronicles 4–6
• John 6:1–21

You may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation.

Luke 2:29–30

“I believe in Jesus and He is my Savior, and I have no fear of death,” said Barbara Bush, the wife of former US President George H. W. Bush, to her son before she died. This incredible and confident statement suggests a strong and deep-rooted faith. She experienced God’s gift of peace that comes from knowing Jesus, even when faced with death.

Simeon, a resident of Jerusalem during the first century, also experienced profound peace because of Jesus. Moved by the Holy Spirit, Simeon went to the temple when Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to be circumcised as required by the law for a newborn boy. Although not much is known about Simeon, from Luke’s description one can tell he was a special man of God, just and devout, waiting faithfully for the coming Messiah, and “the Holy Spirit was on him” (Luke 2:25). Yet Simeon did not experience shalom (peace), a deep sense of completeness, until he saw Jesus.

While holding Jesus in his arms, Simeon broke into a song of praise, expressing full satisfaction in God: “You may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations” (vv. 29–31). He had peace because he foresaw the future hope of the whole world.

As we celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the promised Savior, may we rejoice in God’s gift of peace.

By:  Estera Pirosca Escobar

Reflect & Pray

Have you experienced this deep sense of satisfaction and completeness that comes from knowing Jesus? How can you celebrate God’s gift of peace today?

Dear Father, thank You for Jesus, Your gift of peace.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, mountainlion….they would be wise to stay away from the dogs. Hope you are enjoying the sunshine.

Today was my first day to water the cleaned up yards. And I sat out of the deck for a bit in the sunshine.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

Ready to take on the new week?

[SkyDancer]

Hai! (((HUGS))) Yeah, hopefully soon.

[luvie]

Peaches Approves of THIS Hero...
Simon The Cat

[Kathy in Alaska]

Peaches is BEAUTIFUL...and very discerning about this hero!

I always wanted an orange cat...alas, it never happened.

[Kathy in Alaska]

[luvie]

I had always wanted one, too...and now I have 2. Peaches and his sister, Ginger. You can still have one, ya know...it’s never too late for orange. Orange cats are THE best cats.