Gunner On the 24th of February 2021 the third New Zealand animal to ever be awarded the United Kingdom’s Blue Cross Award took place at the National Army Museum (NAM), Waiouru. Kiwi troops in Afghanistan have been bowled over in more ways than one by a handsome dog who has become mascot, guard and pet at one of their patrol bases. Gunner has won the hearts of soldiers operating out of Nayak, about four hours drive west of the main Kiwi base in Bamian. Gunner was a great guard dog, who would kick up a fuss if anybody came around the base and would snap at the ankles of strangers.

Gunners Story:

Kiwi troops in Afghanistan have been bowled over in more ways than one by a handsome dog who has become mascot, guard and pet at one of their patrol bases. Gunner has won the hearts of soldiers operating out of Nayak, about four hours’ drive west of the main Kiwi base in Bamian. Gunner was a great guard dog, who would kick up a fuss if anybody came around the base and would snap at the ankles of strangers. But he was also a real character. He gets so excited to have you around that it makes going back to the base a pleasure. A soldier quoted: Whenever we had been away from the patrol base for a few days, upon our return he would be like a child seeing his dad return home.

Exact details are still unclear however, Gunner was killed soon after the NZ Troops left Afghanistan. Alas like so manty countries New Zealand did not permit this loyal mascot to come home. The National Army Museum held New Zealand’s first Blue Cross Award in 2019 for a WWI trained as a Red Cross assistant dog called Ceasar. His name was misspelt originally, and so it remains: Ceasar, not Caesar.

Due to Covid-19 Blue Cross representative for New Zealand Nigel Allsopp could not attend from Australia, Nigel’s friend retired RNZAF Police Warrant Officer Colin Waite OBE delivered the award to Lt Col Syd Dewes NZ Army, whom had a strong bond with Gunner in Afghanistan.