Page 63 - K9News_Issue12_July2020

LUCKY

A Royal Air Force Police anti-terrorist tracker
dog deployed for active service 1949-52, during
the Malaya Campaign.

Lucky, was one of four German Shepherds
selected by the Royal Air Force Police dog unit
for special duties during the Malaya Campaign,
otherwise known as the Malaya Emergency,
which began in 1948 and was declared over in
1960. Lucky served for three years and was the
only dog in the team to survive her tour of duty.

Lucky, Jasper, Bobbie and Lassie underwent
rigorous training to form an elite anti-terrorist
tracker dog team capable of locating and
exposing insurgents hiding-out in the Malaya
jungle. The dogs’ highly sensitive sense of smell
gave them the edge in an incredibly hostile
environment where the dense vegetation,
intense heat and lack of reliable intelligence
made tracking the armed guerrilla forces almost
impossible for the ground troops. All too often
the terrorists had the advantage, which was Guards and the Gurkhas. As a unit the dogs
often fatal. The aim of using the canine trackers were responsible for the capture of hundreds
was to take that advantage away from the of communist terrorists including, in 1951,
enemy and put the British troops and Malayan the notorious gang leader Lan-Jang-San who
police on the offensive. was the mastermind behind so many deaths
of innocent local people. The tracking skills
Jungle training for any troops deployed to
of the dogs ensured that the terrorists were
Malaya was essential. Jungle Warfare School
apprehended, and further deaths and casualties
provided the troops with the knowledge and
prevented.
skills they would need to live and fight in such a
challenging location where stealth, patience and Sadly, Bobbie, Lassie and Jasper lost their
constant awareness of the many dangers lurking lives in the line of duty and only Lucky survived
in their surroundings would mean the difference to continue his RAF Police career after his
between life and death. Lucky and his canine duties in Malaya were completed. Lucky’s
colleagues were an added force – trained to handler, RAF Police veteran Corporal Bevel
detect the presence of the terrorists before they Austin Stapleton credited his dog with saving
could do harm. his life many times during the time they served
together. In recognition of his service and life-
Lucky and the other Air Dogs were attached to
saving action in conflict, Lucky was awarded a
Malay Police and several British Army regiments
posthumous PDSA Dickin Medal – the animals’
during their time in Malaya including the
Victoria Cross – On 6 February 2007.
Coldstream Guards, 2nd Battalion Royal Scots

Read the Hero dogs full stories at:
nmwdm.org.uk/hero-dogs

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K9 NEWS DIGITAL / JULY 2020