FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about Dog of War
Quiz about Dog of War

Dog of War Trivia Quiz

Gander, a Courageous Canine

Not all heroes walk on two legs. Some walk on four, are furry and have waggy tales. Here we'll meet one of the latter, by the name of Gander.

A multiple-choice quiz by spanishliz. Estimated time: 3 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Animal Trivia
  6. »
  7. Miscellaneous Animal Trivia
  8. »
  9. Famous Animals

Author
spanishliz
Time
3 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
416,983
Updated
Nov 18 24
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
124
Last 3 plays: Guest 147 (6/10), Guest 216 (6/10), wjames (9/10).
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Before embarking on the course that led to his becoming a heroic dog of war, Gander was a family pet with a different name. What was that friendly name? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. What very large breed of dog was Gander? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. As Gander grew, his family felt the need to find him a new home. What group adopted Gander as their mascot? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. As a mascot, Gander was still effectively a pet, but his new 'family' decided that he should have a rank in their organisation. What rank was Gander given?


Question 5 of 10
5. It is said that some pilots, upon attempting to land at Gander airport, reported which type of animal on the runway, only to discover that it was the airport's namesake dog? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. In October, 1941, Gander and his new friends were deployed overseas. To which outpost of empire were they sent? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Gander had bonded with his friends in uniform, and was very protective of them when the fighting started. How did he meet his end? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. The Japanese soldiers were impressed with Gander's actions, and were reported to have believed him to be what?


Question 9 of 10
9. Almost sixty years after the battle, Gander received which medal in recognition of his actions during it? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Statues of Gander and his handler stand in Gander, Newfoundland.



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Most Recent Scores
Today : Guest 147: 6/10
Dec 01 2024 : Guest 216: 6/10
Dec 01 2024 : wjames: 9/10
Dec 01 2024 : Carouser: 6/10
Dec 01 2024 : genoveva: 6/10
Nov 30 2024 : Dee30: 4/10
Nov 29 2024 : Guest 74: 5/10
Nov 29 2024 : Luckycharm60: 10/10
Nov 28 2024 : RedHook13: 6/10

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Before embarking on the course that led to his becoming a heroic dog of war, Gander was a family pet with a different name. What was that friendly name?

Answer: Pal

Probably born in 1939, the big puppy named Pal began life as the pet of a family named Hayden, who lived near the airport in Gander, Newfoundland. A photo exists of him pulling a sled carrying three children, and sources say that he was, for the most part, very good with the little ones.
2. What very large breed of dog was Gander?

Answer: Newfoundland

In its home province of Newfoundland (and Labrador), especially when it was still a Dominion (before 1949), only black or Landseer (black and white) versions of the breed were considered true Newfoundlands, though grey and brown examples do exist. With water resistant coats and webbing on their paws, they're excellent working dogs for a fishing community, being adept at water rescue and other duties requiring swimming.

Gander's coat was pure black, and he was probably over 65 kg (143 lbs) in weight when he reached adulthood.

(The incorrect choices are much smaller breeds.)
3. As Gander grew, his family felt the need to find him a new home. What group adopted Gander as their mascot?

Answer: Royal Rifles of Canada

The first battalion of the Royal Rifles of Canada had been stationed near the airport at Gander, Newfoundland, for some time and already knew the big dog who often visited the airport, sometimes sleeping on the runway! After an incident that caused his family to think it unwise to have such a big dog while their children were small, the Rifles were happy to adopt him as their mascot.

They renamed him Gander after their base.
4. As a mascot, Gander was still effectively a pet, but his new 'family' decided that he should have a rank in their organisation. What rank was Gander given?

Answer: Sergeant

Sergeant Gander wore the stripes of his rank on his harness, and also had an official number, a kit bag and a handler named Fred Kelly. According to the TV show "Pet Heroes", Gander slept in the barracks with the soldiers and was considered a part of the unit. Robyn Walker, author of "Sergeant Gander: A Canadian Hero" was interviewed about her research on the same programme.
5. It is said that some pilots, upon attempting to land at Gander airport, reported which type of animal on the runway, only to discover that it was the airport's namesake dog?

Answer: Bear

Gander's large size and thick black fur caused this case of mistaken identity, reportedly on more than one occasion. Photos of Gander confirm how easy it might have been to make such an error, especially from a distance.
6. In October, 1941, Gander and his new friends were deployed overseas. To which outpost of empire were they sent?

Answer: Hong Kong

Elements of the Royal Rifles of Canada and the Winnipeg Grenadiers were sent to Hong Kong to reinforce the British garrison there. Gander's friends in the Rifles made sure that he was allowed to accompany them to their new posting. Only a few weeks after arriving they were under attack by Japanese forces, who had launched offensives in various parts of Asia to coincide with their attack on the United States forces at Pearl Harbor in December 1941.
7. Gander had bonded with his friends in uniform, and was very protective of them when the fighting started. How did he meet his end?

Answer: Carrying a live grenade away from a group of wounded soldiers

Throughout the action at Lye Mun, Gander had taken it upon himself to harry the attacking Japanese by running at them, barking and nipping at their ankles in an attempt to chase them away from his soldier friends. Sometimes it worked, and at least one survivor expressed his amazement that the enemy soldiers didn't shoot Gander.

In the end, however, it was a grenade that had landed close to a group of wounded Canadians that took Gander down. The big dog sensed the danger and picked up the grenade, which went off as he was running with it toward the enemy.
8. The Japanese soldiers were impressed with Gander's actions, and were reported to have believed him to be what?

Answer: Specially trained to fight

After the battle was over, some captured Canadian soldiers were asked about Gander, and told that the Japanese soldiers believed he must have been trained to attack them. The reality was that Gander was protecting the other members of his pack, as they were protecting him.
9. Almost sixty years after the battle, Gander received which medal in recognition of his actions during it?

Answer: PDSA Dickin Medal

The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) has awarded the Dickin Medal to a variety of animals since its institution in 1943, including dogs, pigeons, horses and a cat. It was due to the efforts of the Hong Kong Veterans' Association and the Canadian War Museum that Gander's name was submitted to the PDSA for possible recognition. The award was granted in October 2000, almost 59 years after the action for which it was awarded.

The Dickin Medal is often referred to as the Animals' Victoria Cross, and it should be noted that the Battle of Hong Kong also produced a VC recipient in the guise of Company Sergeant Major John Robert Osborn VC of the Winnipeg Grenadiers. Like Gander, CSM Osborn lost his life in performing the deed recognised by the award, also involving a grenade.
10. Statues of Gander and his handler stand in Gander, Newfoundland.

Answer: True

The statues were unveiled in July 2015 in Gander Heritage Memorial Park, and are a fitting memorial to this brave 'dog of war' and his human friend, who first met in this place. Gander is also commemorated, at the request of survivors, on the Hong Kong Veterans' Memorial Wall in Ottawa, and by a statue in Bass River, Nova Scotia.
Source: Author spanishliz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor rossian before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
Related Quizzes
1. Famous Black and White Felines Average
2. Famous Animals Average
3. Animal Connections 1 Average
4. Dog Gone It! Easier
5. Richard III Offers Kingdom For a Horse! Average
6. Exemplary Animals Average
7. A True Cat as Trophy Average
8. His Name Was Digit Very Difficult
9. Love Me Love My Dog Average
10. Animal Stars Tough
11. Dogs Can't Write Memoirs! Average
12. Famous Dogs in History Average

12/2/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us