I am familiar with this story; and it is a great story
how a modern cat served people in a wartime situation.

The complete story can be read here:
http://www.purr-n-fur.org.uk/famous/simon.html
==

Citation:
"Able Seaman Simon, for distinguished and meritorious
service on HMS Amethyst, you are hereby awarded
the Distinguished Amethyst Campaign Ribbon.

Be it known that on April 26, 1949, though recovering
from wounds, when HMS Amethyst was standing by
off Rose Bay you did single-handedly and unarmed
stalk down and destroy 'Mao Tse Tung', a rat guilty
of raiding food supplies which were critically short.

Be it further known that from April 22 to August 4
you did rid HMS Amethyst of pestilence and vermin,
with unrelenting faithfulness."
==

Simon was buried with full military honors at the
PDSA Animal Cemetery, and even has his own
grave stone, which reads:

IN MEMORY OF
"SIMON"
SERVED IN
H.M.S. AMETHYST
MAY 1948 - SEPTEMBER 1949
AWARDED DICKIN MEDAL
AUGUST 1949
DIED 28TH NOVEMBER 1949.
THROUGHOUT THE YANGTZE INCIDENT
HIS BEHAVIOUR WAS OF THE HIGHEST ORDER

It should be noted that the last time (that I know of anyway)
Simons medal was sold at auction in 1993, it fetched about
$33,000....probably worth about $50,000 or more now.
It was sold to The Eaton Film Co. who were planning to
make a movie featuring Simons exploits, and remains in
their vault to this day.

Thank you

I had never heard about that before!@

They are more than what they seem I always say.

Martin wrote on 06/11/2007 :

My friends father was in the Suez Canal zone and saw Amethyst returning
home, he told me she was shot up pretty bad.  That would have been a
hell of an experience for a cat.  My cats go nuts when fireworks are
let off.