The only dog ever officially registered as a prisoner of war
In short: When the HMS Grasshopper was forced to abandon ship in 1942, a liver and white Pointer named Judy became more than a mascot. She survived a jungle trek, an alligator attack, and an eventual capture that made her the only canine to hold official prisoner of war status.
Judy was born in Shanghai in February 1936 to a British couple's dog. Originally named Shudi, she was renamed Judy within her first six months. In late 1936, she was purchased as a mascot for the British gunboat HMS Gnat to join a fleet of ships that already kept mascots for morale and pest control.
In mid-1939, Judy transferred to the HMS Grasshopper. When war broke out in December 1941, she was aboard as the ship supported the retreat from Malaya to Singapore. After being bombed by Japanese aircraft, the crew was forced to abandon ship and was briefly marooned on an uninhabited island. Judy saved the crew by locating a freshwater spring, allowing them to survive until they were picked up and moved to Sumatra.
The journey through the jungle was perilous; Judy suffered a two-inch cut over her left eye from an alligator attack. However, by the time the group reached their destination, Allied forces had already departed. On March 18, the surviving crew and Judy were captured by Japanese forces and taken to Gloegoer Camp in Medan, northern Sumatra.
Judy was initially hidden from the camp guards, but by August 1942, she was befriended by Leading Aircraftsman Frank Williams. He shared his daily rice ration with her, noting the absurdity of seeing a beautiful English Pointer in such a desolate environment. Her status as a prisoner of war remains a unique historical footnote of the conflict.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Dog Who was an Official Prisoner of War
- Also: Judy, the only dog registered as a prisoner of war
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/ideas-the-dog-who-was-an-official-prisoner-of-war.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
