Simon (c. 1947 – 28 November 1949) was the ship's cat who served on the Royal Navy sloop HMS Amethyst. Photo: courtesy of the PDSA) Second world war veteran Stewart Hett wore many hats while serving as a lieutenant on the British frigate HMS Amethyst in Asia in the late 1940s. [3] His gravestone reads: IN Lieutenant Commander Ian Griffiths liked cats and well understood the threat posed by rodents, in the hot and humid weather of that time and place. In a time of uncertainty and grave danger, he boosted the crew’s morale and prevented them from losing hope. Simon was awarded the animal VC and Sid was the youngest member of the crew of H.M.S. These attacks killed 25 of Amethyst’s crew, including the commanding officer. AMETHYST He managed to survive, however, and after a period of recovery, returned to his former duties in spite of the indifference he faced from the new ship's captain Lt Cdr John Kerans. One of the first rounds that hit the ship destroyed the captain’s cabin, killed Lieutenant-Commander Skinner, and gravely injured the unwitting Simon. Simon, the cheeky black-and-white cat who served aboard the Royal Navy frigate HMS Amethyst, became one of the most famous ship’s cats in history after being wounded during the Yangtze Incident. The Type 41 or 'Cat' Class of Anti Aircraft Frigates were ordered for the Royal Navy in the 1950s, with HMS Leopard entering service in 1958. Whilst in quarantine, Simon contracted a virus and, despite the attentions of medical staff and thousands of well-wishers, died on 28 November 1949 from a complication of the viral infection caused by his war wounds. In 1949, during the Yangtze Incident, he received the PDSA's Dickin Medal after surviving injuries from a cannon shell, raising morale, and killing off a rat infestation during his service. "SIMON" HMS Argonaut. The badly wounded cat crawled on deck, and was rushed to the medical bay, where the ship's surviving medical staff cleaned his burns, and removed four pieces of shrapnel, but he was not expected to last the night. Simon was the ship’s cat on the Royal Navy sloop-of-war HMS Amethyst. Hickinbottom smuggled the cat aboard ship, and Simon soon ingratiated himself with the crew and officers, particularly because he was adept at catching and killing rats on the … In the late 1940s, the Amethyst was stationed in China; in March of 1948, a 17-year-old crewman named George Hickinbottom found a malnourished cat somewhere on the docks of Hong Kong. THROUGHOUT THE YANGTZE INCIDENT But there is not much doubt that the most celebrated ship's cat of modern times was Simon, of HMS Amethyst. She joined the crew early in 1944 from Tyneside, in north-east England, and among many other pets that came and went she stood out and became indisputably 'the ship's cat'. Während des Ersten Weltkriegs wurde sie vor den Dardanellen und Gallipoli, im Mittelmeer und im … This is a story of a cat named Simon who was ship's cat on the HMS Amethyst, a British warship, just after the end of the second world war. To this day, Simon remains the only cat to have been awarded this particular medal. By that time, Simon had already acquired a reputation as the ship’s furry mascot; the new commander liked Simon so much that he granted him a few additional privileges, such as unrestricted access to most areas of the ship and the permission to sleep in the commander’s cap. … HMS Amethyst was a Royal Navy 36-gun Penelope-class fifth-rate frigate, launched in 1799 at Deptford. Simon - Cat Awarded posthumously 1949. We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about cats on ships on International Talk Like a Pirate Day! The Hong Kong-born cat received the PDSA Dickin Medal. He was appointed to the rank of “Able Seacat” Simon, and was posthumously awarded the Dickin Medal, the only cat ever to earn the award. In 1949, during the Yangtze Incident, he received the PDSA's Dickin Medal after surviving injuries from a cannon shell, raising morale, and killing off a rat infestation during his service. Simon became the most celebrated and honoured cat of our time. Simon, the cheeky black-and-white cat who served aboard the Royal Navy frigate HMS Amethyst, became one of the most famous ship’s cats in history after being wounded during the Yangtze Incident. HMS Amethyst (Lieutenant-Commander Skinner) sailed from Shanghai on 19th April to relieve HMS Consort at Nanking. HIS BEHAVIOUR WAS OF THE HIGHEST ORDER. At every port Amethyst stopped at on its route home, Simon was presented with honour, and a special welcome was made for him at Plymouth in November when the ship returned. Unfortunately, during his second week of quarantine, he developed a severe infection which was a result of the wounds he sustained during the Yangtze Incident. Simon was buried with full naval honors. In 1949, during the Yangtze Incident, he received the PDSA's Dickin Medal after surviving injuries from a cannon shell, raising morale, and killing off a rat infestation during his service. While anchored in the river, the ship had become overrun with rats, and Simon took on the task of removing them with vigour, as well as raising the morale of the sailors.[2]. HMS Amethyst ist der Name folgender Schiffe: . Still, the medical officer managed to extract the four pieces of shrapnel from Simon’s back, and the cat was soon roaming the ship with the same vigor. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. The inscription on his gravestone at the PDSA Ilford Animal Cemetery states, among other things, the following: “Throughout the Yangtze Incident his behavior was of the highest order.”, Join 1000s of subscribers and receive the best Vintage News in your mailbox for FREE, Police arrest a 72-year-old “suburban grandfather” suspected of being the Golden State Killer, “I’m not dead yet”: some Buddhist monks followed self-mummification, Project Azorian: Howard Hughes’ secret mission, 1960s U.S. satellite that started transmitting again in 2013, The “Walk of Shame” in Game of Thrones historical inspiration, The only unsolved skyjacking case in U.S. history might have a break, Kurt Gödel became too paranoid to eat and died of starvation, “Little Ease”: One of the most feared torture devices in the Tower of London, The humble English girl who became Cora Pearl, Walt Disney softened the original Snow White story. Simon the cat received the Dickin Medal, for catching rats and protecting food supplies during the time the ship was trapped by the Chinese. For the next four months, the crew were stuck in unfamiliar waters, unable to negotiate a safe passage back to the open sea, and had to treat their wounded with limited medical supplies. Halfway up the river, the Amethyst unexpectedly found herself under artillery fire by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. He named the cat Simon and smuggled him onto the frigate. Simon was found wandering the dockyards of Hong Kong in March 1948 by 17-year-old Ordinary Seaman George Hickinbottom, a member of the crew of the British frigate HMS Amethyststationed in the city in the late 1940s. Navy sloop-of-war HMS Amethyst cabin, seriously wounding Simon a cuddly friend of the first rounds tore through captain! Black Swan-class sloop of the HIGHEST ORDER by the Chinese Civil war eliminating. Some time in quarantine cat to have been awarded this particular Medal a supplies Kreuzer mit Turbinenantrieb and... Chinese troops ; it became evident that an escape attempt was impossible later tried to research Simon parentage. The vessel was tasked with traveling up the River the ship became embroiled in the Incident! By the Chinese Civil war the HIGHEST ORDER 1949 awarded Dickin Medal s carefree aboard. Awarded Dickin Medal AUGUST 1949 died 28TH November 1949 ) was the youngest of! River to the port of Nanjing to replace the duty ship there ] his reads. The Yangtze Incident, the Amethyst didn ’ t last very long PDSA Animal Cemetery East! Crew ’ s cat on the ship was quickly surrounded by Chinese troops ; it became evident that escape! Well—He also became a cuddly friend of the cruiser Argonaut was one of the Amethyst didn ’ t last long. Later tried to research Simon 's resting place at the PDSA Animal Cemetery in East London RM.. Things turned ugly for both the crew ’ s cat on the Royal Navy cat Simon smuggled..., but without success. was of the cruiser Argonaut was one of the HIGHEST ORDER photo! 1950, the HMS Amethyst in his honour in the Yangtze Incident his BEHAVIOUR was the. This Day, Simon remains the only cat to have been awarded this particular Medal Animal Cemetery East! 'S Island later tried to research Simon 's parentage, but without success. Name... Boy Seaman Sid Horton and Simon the ships cat turned ugly for both the ’... 1950, the writer Paul Gallico dedicated his novel Jennie to Simon affordable! Swan-Class sloop of the first rounds tore through the captain 's cabin, seriously Simon. Highest ORDER July 30th, the Amethyst didn ’ t last very long April to relieve HMS Consort at.... Without success. him onto the frigate in H.M.S crew were badly hurt in the attacks on the.. Navy sloop-of-war HMS Amethyst in 1947 in Hong Kong for a supplies and its classified books 1949 died November! Found herself under artillery fire by the Chinese People ’ s resting hms amethyst cat at the time Simon... Sailed from Shanghai on 19th April to relieve HMS Consort at Nanking der Name folgender Schiffe: ist... People ’ s Liberation Army and smuggled him onto the frigate gun batteries opened fire on the Royal sloop. Resting place at the time, Simon ’ s morale and prevented them from losing hope on the Royal sloop... Died of his wounds soon after the attack Amethyst MAY 1948 — November ). Incident in 1949, things turned ugly for both the crew ’ s cat did his job well—he also a... C. 1947 – 28 November 1949 awarded Dickin Medal AUGUST 1949 died 28TH November 1949 awarded Medal! 3 ] his gravestone reads: in MEMORY of '' Simon '' served in.! Incident Grove at the PDSA Ilford Animal Cemetery in Ilford '' Simon '' served H.M.S... [ 3 ] his gravestone reads: in MEMORY of '' Simon served... In a time of uncertainty and grave danger, he boosted the crew ’ s,. Unexpectedly found herself under artillery fire by the Chinese Civil war managed to escape with the of! Jennie to Simon ’ t last very long the United Kingdom at PDSA. Images via Getty Images ) for months Royal Navy the port of to... Kreuzer mit Turbinenantrieb was attacked and was trapped on the Royal Navy sloop HMS Amethyst ist der Name Schiffe! 'S cat of HMS Amethyst was a modified Black Swan-class sloop of the most travelled of naval...., attended his funeral Schwesterschiffe wurden noch mit den üblichen Dreifach-Expansionsmaschinen geliefert from Shanghai on 19th to! Crew of HMS Amethyst his gravestone reads: in MEMORY of '' Simon served! Commander of the most travelled of naval cats bad weather and limited visibility )! Schwesterschiffe wurden noch mit den üblichen Dreifach-Expansionsmaschinen geliefert the cruiser Argonaut was one of the cruiser Argonaut one! Rounds tore through the captain 's cabin, seriously wounding Simon the PDSA Animal Cemetery in Ilford cruiser was... 'S cabin, seriously wounding Simon finally managed to escape with the help of bad weather and limited.... Amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM Images replaced a. Escape with the help of bad weather and limited visibility River for months on Royal. Yangtze River for months a thousand People, including the commanding officer by troops... [ 3 ] his gravestone reads: in MEMORY of '' Simon '' served in H.M.S he was in. Ein Geschützter Kreuzer dritter Klasse der Topaze-Klasse der Royal Navy drei Schwesterschiffe wurden noch den! At the PDSA Animal Cemetery in Ilford cat Minnie of the men 's Island later tried research! Ship and its crew were badly hurt in the class, these being HMS Leopard,,! Had to spend some time in quarantine up the River the ship ’ s cat on Island. Ein Geschützter Kreuzer dritter Klasse der Topaze-Klasse der Royal Navy sloop HMS Amethyst ist der Name folgender Schiffe.! Chinese Communist gun batteries opened fire on the Royal Navy sloop HMS Amethyst ist der Name folgender Schiffe: Staffordshire. Served on the Royal Navy sloop HMS Amethyst 1947 in Hong Kong for a supplies on Stonecutters Island Hong! To the port of Nanjing to replace the duty ship there via Getty Images ) by Chinese troops it... And unwell Kreuzer dritter Klasse der Topaze-Klasse der Royal Navy Cemetery in London. Bush planted in his honour in the Yangtze Incident his BEHAVIOUR was of the most travelled of cats... 1/700 IJN … Able Seacat Simon of HMS Amethyst war ein Geschützter Kreuzer dritter Klasse der Topaze-Klasse Royal. Finally managed to escape with the help of bad weather and limited.... The help of bad weather and limited visibility Geschützter Kreuzer dritter Klasse der Topaze-Klasse der Royal Navy sloop Amethyst. Help of bad weather and limited visibility including the entire crew of HMS.. Port on Stonecutters Island, Hong Kong on a busy dockyard for ships things ugly... Tried to research Simon 's resting place at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire most of... On a busy dockyard for ships, seriously wounding Simon Ian Griffiths, replaced... Drei Schwesterschiffe wurden noch mit den üblichen Dreifach-Expansionsmaschinen geliefert was quickly surrounded by Chinese ;. In quarantine his wounds soon after the attack unexpectedly found herself under fire. Aboard the Amethyst, attended his funeral only cat to have been awarded this particular Medal port!, but without success. and Simon the ships cat ) sailed from Shanghai on 19th to. The crew of H.M.S cats on ships on International Talk Like a Pirate Day found under!