Buster

Buster – PDSA Dickin Medal 60

Date of Award: December 2003

Buster the Springer Spaniel was in need of a home when he was spotted by the Royal Army Veterinary Corps at an animal rescue centre; adopted and began training as a specialist Arms and Explosives Search Dog.

The Gulf War had been over for more than a decade when Buster was posted to Southern Iraq with the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. An ongoing insurgency meant it was still a high-risk conflict zone and Coalition Forces were continually under attack from Ba’athist rebel groups. As the only Arms and Explosives Dog in the area, Buster was crucial to operations – and during one particular incident, proved to be a life-saving colleague.

During a raid on a local stronghold by more than 200 Coalition troops, 16 suspected Ba’athist insurgents were arrested in the village of Safwan near the Kuwaiti border. The captured Iraqis insisted they had nothing to hide. Following an initial search, no trace of any weapons could be found. Unconvinced, the commander on the ground sent in Buster and his handler, Sergeant Danny Morgan.

Within minutes, Buster began indicating he’d found something. On closer inspection a secret compartment was discovered. Buster’s astonishing sense of smell meant he was able to detect the cache despite it being hidden within a wall, covered by a sheet of metal and hidden behind a wardrobe.

The cache included AK 47 automatic assault rifles, a pistol, several grenades, ammunition and potential bomb-making components. It was a hugely significant find. As Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Dinely said, ‘Quite simply, Buster succeeded where humans failed’. The seizure was viewed as a turning point for the security of the local community.

Presented with his PDSA Dickin Medal by the charity’s Royal Patron in December 2003, Buster’s citation read: “For outstanding gallantry in March 2003 while assigned to the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment in Safwan, Southern Iraq. Arms and explosives search dog Buster … is considered responsible for saving the lives of service personnel and civilians. Following the find, all attacks ceased and shortly afterwards troops replaced their steel helmets with berets.”

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