Sergeant Gander Read Free

Canada agreed to send two infantry battalions to the island to help reinforce the British garrison that was stationed there. During the autumn of 1941, two Canadian units, the Royal Rifles of Canada and the Winnipeg Grenadiers, departed for Hong Kong.
    Less than a month after the Canadians’ arrival in Hong Kong, the Japanese launched their attack against the colony. The Canadians fought bravely, but could not withstand the Japanese onslaught and in less than three weeks the colony of Hong Kong was completely overrun. The British and Canadian troops surrendered to the Japanese on Christmas Day 1941, and were dispatched to Japanese prisoner of war camps for the remainder of the war. Those who survived the horrific conditions of the camps and returned to Canada at the end of the war helped to form the Hong Kong Veterans’ Association of Canada. They continue to work hard to preserve the memory of their fallen comrades.
    Of all the Canadians who participated in the Battle of Hong Kong, only one was awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal. This medal is awarded to animals that display gallantry and devotion to duty while under the control of any branch of the armed forces. Sergeant Gander is the nineteenth dog ever to receive this medal, and the first Canadian canine to do so. This is his story.

List of Maps
    Map:1 Southeast Asia, 1940.
    Map 2: Location of Gander in Newfoundland.
    Map 3: Territorial boundaries between Canada and Newfoundland, 1941.
    Map 4: Japanese expansion in Asia, 1931–41.
    Map 5: German expansion in Europe, 1937–42.
    Map 6: The Crown Colony of Hong Kong, 1941.
    Map 7: The initial disposition of forces in Hong Kong, December 8, 1941.
    Map 8: The initial positions of the Royal Rifles of Canada, December 1 to 18,1941.
    Map 9: The positions of the Royal Rifles of Canada and the Japanese lines of
    attack, December 19, 1941.

1: Bear on the Runway
    Gander, a purebred Newfoundland dog, was born in the Dominion of Newfoundland, most likely in 1939. His family, the Haydens, had named him “Pal.” Newfoundland dogs are enormous animals, with long, shaggy black fur, known for their love of children, swimming skills, and rescuing abilities. As a puppy, Pal had a voracious appetite and grew rapidly. His intelligence and good temperament made him easy to train, and he enjoyed spending much of his time out of doors. Pal was well-known to the members of the small local community and was a much loved family pet. Certainly no one could have predicted that the small but growing bundle of black fur would one day be considered a war hero!
    Gander, Newfoundland, was selected as the site for the construction of an airport due to its location near the northeastern tip of the North American continent. Construction began in 1936, and the town started to develop. In 1940, Gander was not so much a town as a collection of construction camps. There were very few civilians living there and only about ten homes had been built. When the one-room schoolhouse opened, it had only fourteen pupils. Rod Hayden, his wife, and his young son Jack were one of the few families living there. Rod Hayden was the depot officer for the Shell Oil Company, and Gander Airport was a major refilling station for planes that were on their way to England.
    In July 1940, the Germans had launched a massive bombing campaign against England in preparation for the invasion of the island nation. British factories, airfields, and cities were the targets of the German bombers. The Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter pilots sustained heavy casualties in defence of their homeland, and the supply of replacement pilots could not keep pace with the losses. To help bolster the RAF numbers, many pilots were trained in Canada and then sent over to England, where they defended England’s skies against German bombers or engaged in bombing missions themselves against German targets. 5
    Description of Newfoundland Dogs
    Newfoundland dogs are massive animals, with males