A special forces dog that detected explosives and insurgents during an assault on a Taliban position in Afghanistan has been given a prestigious award for gallantry.

Mali, a Belgian Malinois, received the Dickin medal for saving the lives of Special Boat Service troops during the 2012 operation.

The Dickin medal has been described by the PDSA charity that awards it as the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross, the UK's highest honour for gallantry.

Cpl Daniel Hatley, who trained Mali when the dog was a puppy, said: "I am extremely proud of Mali. The way he conducted himself when it mattered most enabled my colleagues to achieve success inclose combat."

Mali's special forces handler, who cannot be named for security reasons, was also awarded a gallantry medal for his part in the operation.

During his deployment with the Special Boat Service, Mali was credited with giving British forces the upper hand in a near eight-hour operation to dislodge a heavily armed Taliban force from amulti-storey building.

He was wounded by three grenade blasts, but still managed to indicate the locations of enemy fighters. That gave the British forces time to react in close-quarters combat.

The dog was sent through direct fire twice and was hoisted up the outside of the building several times to provide the assault force with a foothold. The first two explosions that wounded Malicaused injuries to his chest, front and rear legs.

Another detonated close to his face, causing the loss of his front tooth and damage to his ear. But Mali continued to push forward and remained close to his handler.

The PDSA described the dog as an "incredibly worthy recipient" of the medal. "Being awarded the PDSA Dickin medal recognises Mali's vital role within the force that day," Hatley said.

To read the complete article, see:
Army dog wins 'animal Victoria Cross' for Taliban counterattack(https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/17/army-dog-wins-animal-victoria-cross-for-taliban-counterattack)

To read earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
DICKIN MEDAL WINNER PADDY THE PIGEON (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n31a34.html)
STATUE DEDICATED TO DICKIN MEDAL DOG (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n44a27.html)

Director general of the PDSA, Jan McLoughlin, said: "Mali has displayed a truly awesome ability and determination to seek out explosives and insurgents during a key operation.

"To achieve this while exposed to close combat and such intense enemy attack makes him an incredibly worthy recipient of the PDSA Dickin Medal.

"It is even more poignant that we were able to make Mali's award today on our charity's 100th birthday."

Eight-year-old Mali is the 69th recipient of the medal, which was presented to him at a ceremony in London on Friday.

The medal was first introduced by the veterinary charity's founder Maria Dickin in 1943 and is a large bronze medallion bearing the words "for gallantry" and "we alsoserve".

In the years since its creation, a total of 31 other dogs, 32 World War messenger pigeons, four horses and one cat have also joined the roll of honour.

To read the complete article, see:
Heroic Mali receives the Dickin Medal - the canine Victoria Cross - for brave Afghanistanmission (http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/heroic-mali-receives-dickin-medal-797642)