Collected Podcast Episode 14: Military working dogs
Dogs have always accompanied Australians to war, as mascots, messengers, scouts, guards - and comforting companions in tough times. These days, dogs in the Australian Defence Force are highly trained and serve in specific and vital roles. In Episode 14 of Collected, Louise Maher learns about the long and varied history of military working dogs and visits a new memorial that honours their courage, skill and devotion.
Presented by: Louise Maher
Produced by: Louise Maher
Interviewed:
Sergeant Alistair Le Lievre
Dr Meleah Hampton, historian
Laura Webster, Head of Art
Steven Holland, artist and creator of Circling into Sleep
Original music: Andy Heaney, Vice Like Grip
Lance Corporal Le Lievre with an Australian Explosive Detection dog.
Watercolour of Explosive Detection Dog, 'Sarbi', who served in Afghanistan.
Sarbi was an Australian Army Explosive Detection Dog that spent almost 14 months missing in action (MIA) in Afghanistan having disappeared during an ambush in September 2008. Sarbi was later rediscovered by an American soldier, and was reunited with Australian forces, pending her repatriation to Australia. In April 2011 Sarbi was awarded an RSPCA Purple Cross Award in recognition of the deeds of animals that have shown outstanding service to humans and exceptional courage in risking their own safety or life to save a person. She died in March 2015.
In 2010 Charles Green and Lyndell Brown created this painting in their Melbourne studio as a response to the story of Sarbi's return. The painting is recreated from a photograph they took in Afghanistan during their 2007 tour as official war artists.
Watercolour of Explosive Detection Dog, Kuga, who served in Afghanistan. One of 10 watercolours by HSC student and artist, Rachael Michelle Potter, in a series entitled 'Unsung Heroes- Afghanistan', of which nine are in the Memorial's collection. Kuga was a combat assault dog who died in 2012 after receiving four gunshot wounds.
Horrie in Syria, wearing his Corporal's uniform. C20313
Early in 1941, Private Jim Moody, VX13091, 2/1st Machine Gun Battalion found a puppy in the Ikingi Mariut area of the Western Desert, Egypt. "Horrie" became the unofficial mascot of the battalion, travelling with them from Egypt to Greece, Crete, Palestine and Syria then back to Australia in 1942.
