Artist: Celia Pike
Size 297 x210mm on Fotospeed Matt Ultra 240gsm paper.
Mounted on 300 x 215mm backing board.
Packed in EN13432 compostable PLA. Bag.
Made in UK.
In 1949, the crew of the Royal Navy frigate HMS Amethyst included a cat called Simon. When the ship came under attack during a mission in a conflict zone in the Yangtse River, 25 men were killed and many, including Simon, were badly injured. Happily, Simon recovered. There followed a 3-month siege, during which the crew suffered dreadful conditions. Simon not only dealt with a serious rat problem, but also provided comfort, affection and entertainment, generally keeping the men’s spirits up. His fame spread back home and when the Amethyst finally escaped, he was hailed a hero. Renamed Able Seaman Simon by his crew, he was the first cat to be awarded the PDSA Dickin medal for bravery.