EP. 380: “Judy” — A Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Short Story

A bird dog endures shipwrecks, captivity, starvation and war to become a legendary symbol of courage.

Judy of Sussex was no ordinary bird dog. Born in Shanghai in 1936, the liver-and-white pointer became the mascot of a British gunboat before serving alongside its crew through some of the darkest years of World War II.

After surviving the sinking of two ships, Judy endured years of captivity alongside British POWs in Japanese prison camps. She found fresh water for stranded sailors, hunted game, survived a crocodile attack, helped prisoners maintain morale and repeatedly escaped attempts to kill her.

Her story offers a remarkable look at the bond between working dogs and the people who depend on them, while showing just how much courage and instinct a bird dog can possess under unimaginable conditions. Judy eventually received the Dickin Medal, Britain's highest military honor for animals, and remains the only dog officially registered as a prisoner of war.

Follow the show for weekly conversations about hunting, conservation, bird dogs, and upland birds.

Sound effects and sound design for "Judy" provided by:

• Editing and sound design by Trout Stream Studios
• [BG] Combat.wav by Audionautics -- https://freesound.org/s/136260/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
• Warzone by LogicMoon -- https://freesound.org/s/715831/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
• WAR_MACHINEGUN_SHOOTING_005.wav by deleted_user_3544904 -- https://freesound.org/s/234619/ -- License: Attribution 3.0
• War sounds by Dragout -- https://freesound.org/s/150305/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
• LightMachineGun1.wav by SuperPhat -- https://freesound.org/s/417688/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
• yucatan jungle.mp3 by folkart films -- https://freesound.org/s/122767/ -- License: Attribution 3.0
• R28-41-Hammer Metal Stakes or Nails.wav by craigsmith -- https://freesound.org/s/487086/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
• G54-30-Waves Heard from Ship's Hold.wav by craigsmith -- https://freesound.org/s/438849/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
• Hopeful Cinematic Emotional Orchestra Background Music by EvanBoyerman -- https://freesound.org/s/753968/ -- License: Attribution 4.0
• Emotional Uplifting Soundtrack - For Her by MusicByMisterbates -- https://freesound.org/s/596510/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

On the Wing Podcast is proudly fueled by Purina Pro Plan.