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Our museums and galleries house fascinating collections, from living bugs to The Beatles, fine art to photography, the Titanic to ancient Egypt.
Dogs online exhibition
Jet of Iada bronze by Edna Rose, from the Walker Art Gallery's collections. Accession number WAG 7003
Jet was a rescue dog from Liverpool who was awarded a bravery medal for war service. He went to the 'War Dog School' in Gloucester from the age of nine months and was first stationed in Northern Ireland.
Listen to three excerpts from an interview in which Lilias Ward (the daughter of Jet's owner) talks about her memories of Jet. You can read a full transcript of the excerpts from Lilias Ward's interview here.
Excerpt one: Jet's work during the war:
Excerpt two: How Jet won his medal:
Excerpt three: A chance encounter years later:
There is a memorial to Jet in Calderstones Park, Liverpool where he is buried. Lilias Ward has proud memories of how her mother arranged this:
"My mother had been in touch with Liverpool City Council to ask what they could do? Whether the park would give him a site because Calderstones Park meant so much to her, and everything was set in motion. It was a very very satisfying day, sad, but satisfying, because he was a special person.
The main thing my mother wanted was for the story of the contribution made to the war effort by individuals and dogs as well, to be told to children, and for them to know the good things that dogs can do to help us. The marvellous thing is that a friend of mine was standing by the memorial recently and she heard two mothers come and read out, and tell their children the story, so I thought well my mother would be pleased about that"
Jet's memorial in Calderstones Park
The inscription on the memorial reads:
'JET OF IADA. Dickin Medal & Medallion for Valour. First Rescue Dog Air Raids 2nd World War'
A painting of Jet from the Walker Art Gallery collection was included in the exhibition The Animals' War at the Imperial War Museum, London, from 26 May 2007 to 6 January 2008.