Judy: The Unforgettable Story of the Dog Who Went to War and Became a True Hero Read Online Free PDF Page B

river.
    “Atten-shun!” the ship’s coxswain called once all were present. “Ship’s company mustered, sir,” he reported to a figure standing close by.
    The Gnat ’s first lieutenant, R. Haines, stepped forward and mounted an empty wooden ammunition crate, one that would normally carry rounds for the ship’s .303-caliber Maxim machine guns. Three of these light machine guns—a weapon that had become synonymous with the projection of Great Britain’s colonial power—were positioned on either side of the boat, giving her impressive all-around firepower. But right now it was far less warlike matters that the first lieutenant had on his mind. Having given the order to stand easy, he began to address the men, the faint suggestion of a smile flickering across his normally inscrutable features.
    “A few weeks back the canteen committee, with myself as chairman, passed a resolution to the effect that we would have a ship’s pet.” He paused, as if checking a sheet of paper in his hand, and then continued, the smile creeping farther into his eyes. “To remind you, we decided on having some female companionship, a lady who would be attractive and could earn her keep. I have studied your very interesting suggestions, most of which I regrettably had to discard.”
    The first lieutenant eyed the men ranged before him. “On the Bee they have two cats,” he continued. “The Cricket has a dog—of sorts. The Cicada has a monkey—heaven help them!” A long, weighty pause. “As for the Gnat , from this moment onwards no shooting party will be able to return to ship claiming to have shot twenty-three quail but only one could be found.”
    He turned and let out a cry: “Quartermaster!”
    A figure emerged from the door behind him, one that led into the ship’s superstructure and up to the bridge. A few paces to his rear a head appeared at knee level, peering curiously around the door frame. As the quartermaster—the ship’s storekeeper—pulledgently on a leash, the rest of the figure stepped into the light. It was a four-legged creature—a white English pointer with dramatic liver-colored markings across her head and body.
    The quartermaster moved to where everyone could see. All eyes were on the dog. Not yet fully grown, she had an odd, endearing, floppy kind of a walk as she padded across the deck on paws that still seemed too big for her body. Man and dog came to a halt between the first lieutenant and the phalanx of ship’s crew ranged before him. Judy proceeded to plunk herself down, her well-bred ladylike air evaporating as a large floppy pink tongue lolled out from what appeared to be a decidedly goofy grin.
    It was as much as the men could do not to dissolve into laughter.
    The first lieutenant swept his arm theatrically across the dog now squatted before him. “Here she is, then, gentlemen. Meet the first lady of the gunboats. Meet Judy—RN!”
    Judy was given a right royal welcome by the crew of the Gnat . They picked the nickname Judy of Sussex for her in keeping with her purebred, aristocratic kind of attitude. Sussex was chosen for no other reason than that it was a very long way from Shanghai and because several of the ship’s crew hailed from that part of England.
    The natural choice for the important post of Keeper of the Ship’s Dog fell to Able Seaman Jan “Tankey” Cooper. Tankey was in charge of the ship’s food stores and fresh water, but more important, he was also the ship’s butcher, which meant he was able to lay his hands on a regular supply of bones.
    Via Tankey, Judy was allotted an open-topped box—an empty ammunition crate—positioned near the ship’s bridge, plus a ship’s blanket, as her sleeping quarters. But in the coming weeks and months she would be found as often as not elsewhere, so much preferable was it to be curled up fast asleep with one of the ship’s crew.
    Judy was even given an official ship’s book number. Every man serving in the Royal Navy had a unique set