Animals in war: Gallery of the brave and gallant
As the World War One warhorse is awarded an "animal Victoria Cross" today at Imperial London Museum, we take a look back at all the animals who have been recognised for their bravery on the front line.
The PDSA Dickin Medal, recognised worldwide as the animals' Victoria Cross, is the highest award any animal can receive whilst serving in military conflict.
The medal's ribbon is striped green, dark brown and pale blue representing water, earth and air to symbolise the naval, land and air forces.
The medal has been awarded 65 times since 1943 and its recipients include 32 pigeons, 29 dogs, three horses and one cat.
The first animal to be awarded the medal for its bravery was a pigeon named White Vision.
He received the medal on December 2 in1943 after he delivered a message that contributed to the rescue of a ditched aircrew in October.
The only cat to be awarded the PDSA Dickin Award, was the HMS Amethyst's ship's cat called Simon who disposed of many rats and protected food supplies while the ship was trapped by the Chinese.
He was awarded for his "mentorious and distinguished service" during the second World War.
Take a look through a gallery of the most recent awards given to the brave animals of war:
December 2003
Buster the Springer Spaniel broke a resistance cell in Safwan, southern Iraq, where he discovered a hidden cache of weapons and explosives in March 2003.
He served with the Duke of Wellington's Regiment and is considered to be responsible for saving countless lives.
February 2007
Lucky the dog was the only member of a four-dog team to survive tracking nationalists in Malaya from 1949 to 1952.
The German Shepard was instrumental in capturing terrorists during the Malaya conflict and served with the Royal Air Force Police.
Labrador Sadie received her medal for detecting explosive devices, which were subsequently disarmed, while serving in Kabul, Afghanistan, in November 2005.
She served with the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment.
February 2010
Treo the Labrador located explosive devices while serving in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in August and September 2008.
The army explosives search dog served with Royal Army Veterinary Corps and received his Dickin Medal at the Imperial War Museum in south London.
October 2012
Theo the Springer Spaniel, who located explosive devices while serving in Afghanistan, holds the record for most operational finds by an arms and explosives search dog with 14.
He died from an apparent seizure after his handler Lance Corporal Liam Tasker was killed by enemy fire earlier that day.
April 2014
Sasha the labrador located 15 improvised explosive devices, mortars, mines and weapons while serving in Afghanistan with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps.
Sasha and her handler were killed in a Taliban ambush by a rocket-propelled grenade.
September 2014
The first and only Honorary PDSA Dickin Medal was awarded to war horse Warrior on behalf of all animals that served in World War I.
Warrior is the 66th recipient of the medal from animal charity PDSA.
The medal was accepted by horse racing broadcaster Brough Scott, the grandson of Warrior's rider Gen Jack Seely on behalf of the warhorse dubbed "the horse the Germans could not kill".
Warrior was subjected to machine gun attacks by air, survived falling shells at the Battle of the Somme, was buried under debris and got stuck in mud at Passchendaele, and was twice trapped under the burning beams of his stables.