In 1915, a little Bulldog puppy named, “Peggy” entered the Royal Navy and joined the crew of the battleship, HMS Iron Duke. She served on board through WWI, and even received a medal (seen below in this pastel drawing of her) for her attendance at the Battle of Jutland, the greatest naval battle of the war. 

Peggy was a playful dog,  and one crew member recalled that every morning while they were exercising as the band played, Peggy would suddenly hurl herself at some unsuspecting sailor. The sailor would fall down, and Peggy would waddle back to her vantage point under the muzzle of a gun turret.

Peggy was retired to land life in 1919 and later auctioned off for charity (wait for it), and to her immense joy, was reunited with her crew of the Iron Duke where she spent the rest of her life. Peggy died after an illness in 1923 and was given a sailor’s burial at sea.

Inside image: Pastel by Georgina Shaw Baker (1860 – 1951)