“Canes Pugnaces”

Canes Pugnaces
“War Dog”

`Canes Pugnaces` or `Canis Pugnax` (singular) is a Latin phrase,
which means War Dogs or Fighting Dogs.

Pugnaces Britanniae
“War Dog of Britain”

Pugnaces Britanniae (Latin) or War Dog of Britain is an extinct breed of dog.

Appearance:
The references by Roman writers to the ‘canes pugnaces‘ of Roman Britain suggest a dog of a large and heavy type. Oppian says the fighting dog had light brown eyes, truncated muzzle, loose skin above the brows, a broad back, great stature, and muscular legs.

History:
The Roman conquest of Britain made Britain a Roman province. At that time, there were giant, wide-mouthed dogs, which the Romans called Pugnaces Britanniae, that were far superior to their own. A Roman Officer (L. Procurator Cynegii), was stationed in Winchester and responsible for selecting these dogs, which were exported to Rome for contests in the amphitheatre and for integration into the military as war dogs.

‘Pugnaces’ of Roman Britain were specifically referred to by the Greek
historian Arrian in 130.

Resource:
* Homan, M. (1999). A Complete History of Fighting Dogs. Howell Book House. ISBN 1582451281

List of War Dogs

* Antis, a Dickin Medal winner
* Bamse, a Saint Bernard, was a symbol of the Free Norwegian Forces in World War II.
* Chesty, one of a family of bulldogs, serving as the official mascot of Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. These dogs are actually enlisted in the US Marine Corps, most attaining the rank of corporal.
* Chips was a hero wardog of World War II.
* Gander, a Newfoundland, was posthumously awarded the Dicken Medal for his feats during the Battle of Hong Kong in World War II.
* Horrie the Wog Dog, found in Egypt by Australian Forces in 1942 during World War II, saved the lives of many Australian soldiers. Horrie was refused admission back to Australia after service in Europe; he was saved by his mates smuggling him to his new home in Australia.
* Judy, a ship’s dog who served with the Royal Navy, was the only animal to have been officially registered as a Japanese prisoner of war. She was awarded the Dickin Medal in 1946.
* Just Nuisance, the only dog to have been officially enlisted in the Royal Navy, was buried with full military honours upon his death in 1944.
* Lava, a mixed breed dog, was adopted as a puppy by the 1st Battalion 3rd Marines Unit nicknamed the Lava Dogs. He was rescued from Iraq in 2005 by Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman. Lava is the subject of the book From Baghdad, With Love by Kopelman and Melinda Roth.
* Lex, the first actively working Military Working Dog to be adopted by family members of its handler, prior to being retired.
* Nigger, a black Labrador Retriever belonging to Wing Commander Guy Gibson, gave his name as the codename for the Dam Busters mission in World War II. His name is usually edited out of modern versions of the film about the mission.
* Rags, a Signal Corps mascot during World War I.
* Sabi, an Australian special forces explosives detection dog that spent almost 14 months missing in action (MIA) in Afghanistan before being recovered in 2009.
* Sergeant Stubby, the most decorated American war dog in US history, served during World War I. He was also a mascot at Georgetown University.
* Sinbad, the Coast Guard’s most famous mascot. He was adopted by a crewman from the cutter Campbell prior to World War II. He was so beloved by the crew that they actually enlisted him in the Coast Guard. Sinbad had a book written about him, “Sinbad of the Coast Guard”.
* Smoky, hero war dog of World War II, was a Yorkshire Terrier who served with the 5th Air Force in the Pacific after she was adopted by Corporal William Wynne. Smoky was credited with twelve combat missions and awarded eight battle stars. Wynne authored a book about his adventures with Smoky entitled Yorkie Doodle Dandy: Or, the Other Woman Was a Real Dog.
* Soochow, the United States Marine Corps mascot in the Cabanatuan Prison Camp on the Bataan peninsula, and the only Animal Survivor of the Bataan Death March.

Dog named Nigger

Nigger was a black labrador retriever dog belonging to Wing Commander Guy Gibson, and the mascot of 617 Squadron. Nigger died on 16 May 1943, the day before the famous “Dam Busters” raid, when he was hit by a car. He was buried at midnight as Gibson was leading the raid. ‘Nigger‘ was the codeword Gibson used to confirm the breach of the Möhne Dam. Nigger’s grave is at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire. He had often accompanied Gibson on training flights.

Film censorship
Nigger was portrayed in the 1955 film The Dam Busters. He was mentioned by name frequently in the film. The word nigger, which was in general use as a name at the time, has since become unacceptable for media use. In 1999, British television network ITV broadcast a censored version of the film, with all instances of the name removed. ITV blamed regional broadcaster London Weekend Television, which in turn alleged that a junior staff member had been responsible for the unauthorized cuts. When ITV again showed a censored version in June 2001, it was criticized by Index on Censorship as “unnecessary and ridiculous” and that the edits introduced continuity errors.

Phantom sightings
According to Bruce Barrymore Halpenny in his books Ghost Stations, the ghost of Nigger has been seen on numerous occasions around RAF Scampton and also around the Dambusters Memorial at Woodhall Spa.

Resource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigger_(dog)

Dead Dogs BARK ON!!!

vvvv ~ * This entry has reference to the war dog Nigger, who served his master and his men honorably. This is an historical reference. If any offense is taken, that is unfortunate, as one is then not taking the true meaning of this article with them. I would consider censoring this post as “unnecessary and ridiculous”, and as so I have not.

~cave canum~ vvvv

~ by the Dead Dog Barking on 05/20/2010.