Rob (1939 – 18 January 1952) was a Collie dog who in February 1945 was awarded the Dickin Medal,[1] considered to be the animals' Victoria Cross.
[2] Assigned to the Special Air Service at the base in Wivenhoe Park, Essex, Rob's official designation was war dog No 471/322.
[1] The citation read "For service including 20 parachute jumps while serving with Infantry in North Africa and SAS Regiment in Italy.
[4] According to Quentin Hughes' autobiographical account of his time in the 2nd SAS, Who Cares Who Wins?,[3] the actions which led to Rob's Dickin Medal were a hoax.
[5] According to Hughes' friend Mickey King, who remembered the author discussing the incident, "Quentin said that nobody survived 20 parachute drops, let alone a dog.
"[3] Rob's Dickin Medal (along with associated photographs, supporting materials including a draft manuscript of an unpublished book by Mrs Bayne) was sold by auction at Noonans Mayfair in London for a record price of £140,000 (plus 24% buyer's premium) on 12 October 2022.