Bing (dog)

Bing (1942–44 – October 1955) was a dog who received the Dickin Medal in 1947 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Second World War.

[1] An Alsatian and Collie cross, Bing (originally named "Brian") was given to the army in 1944 when his owners, the Fetch family from Loughborough in Leicestershire, were no longer able to feed him due to rationing.

[2] On joining the army Bing was given the number 2720/6871 and first saw action with his handler and trainer Lance Corporal Ken Bailey[3] in a reconnaissance platoon with the 13th Parachute Battalion, part of the 6th Airborne Division, over Normandy on D-Day on 6 June 1944.

[2] Bing was trained to locate the enemy and protect military personnel,[4] and served in France until September 1944.

On his death in 1955 his skin and fur were mounted for display while the rest of his remains were buried in the PDSA Animal Cemetery in Ilford in Essex.