Dickin Medal Recipient. An Alsatian, or German Shepard, born in the Crumstone Kennels, South Stoke, Goring-on-Thames, she was known alternately as either Crumstone Irma, or simply, Irma. During the London Blitz, Irma was initially used as a messenger dog. She was later teamed with another dog from the same kennel, Crumstone Psyche, and working with their owner/handler Margaret Griffin, they were both trained as search and rescue dogs with MAP (Ministry of Aircraft Production) attached to Civil Defense. Irma proved her worth, becoming a skilled sniffer dog, developing barks that differed depending on whether a buried victim was dead or alive, including an incident when Irma signaled with an "alive" bark and rescuers dug out a victim who appeared dead, but Irma was proved correct. She was commended for her refusal to give up on the scent of two girls who were trapped under a fallen building for two days. She was awarded a Dickin Medal, commonly known as the animal's VC, on January 12, 1945 with a citation that read "For being responsible for the rescue of persons trapped under blitzed buildings while serving with the Civil Defences of London." Irma, and fellow Dickin Medal recipient, Jet, participated in the Victory Celebration in London, held in Pall Mall, June 1946. Both wore their Dickin Medals during the parade. Following the war, they became demonstration dogs at the dog school in Gloucester.
Dickin Medal Recipient. An Alsatian, or German Shepard, born in the Crumstone Kennels, South Stoke, Goring-on-Thames, she was known alternately as either Crumstone Irma, or simply, Irma. During the London Blitz, Irma was initially used as a messenger dog. She was later teamed with another dog from the same kennel, Crumstone Psyche, and working with their owner/handler Margaret Griffin, they were both trained as search and rescue dogs with MAP (Ministry of Aircraft Production) attached to Civil Defense. Irma proved her worth, becoming a skilled sniffer dog, developing barks that differed depending on whether a buried victim was dead or alive, including an incident when Irma signaled with an "alive" bark and rescuers dug out a victim who appeared dead, but Irma was proved correct. She was commended for her refusal to give up on the scent of two girls who were trapped under a fallen building for two days. She was awarded a Dickin Medal, commonly known as the animal's VC, on January 12, 1945 with a citation that read "For being responsible for the rescue of persons trapped under blitzed buildings while serving with the Civil Defences of London." Irma, and fellow Dickin Medal recipient, Jet, participated in the Victory Celebration in London, held in Pall Mall, June 1946. Both wore their Dickin Medals during the parade. Following the war, they became demonstration dogs at the dog school in Gloucester.
Inscription
In memory of
Crumstone Irma
Served with Civil Defense London
Awarded PDSA Dickin Medal
January 1945
For bravery in locating victims
trapped under blitzed buildings
