From the Mitcham Advertiser, 11th October 1956.
Rex III, police dog who made 125 arrests, is dead
REX III, Britain’s most famous police dog, is dead. He was put to sleep on Monday afternoon after specialists at the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons had confirmed that he had throat cancer. He was taken to the Metropolitan Police dog training school to be destroyed.
Rex, an alsatian, lived with his handler, P.-con. Arthur Holman, in St. James’s Road, Mitcham. In six and a half years. Rex made 125 arrests; his tracking led to many others.
The dog became ill a few weeks ago while on holiday in Norfolk with P.-con. Holman and his family. They broke their holiday to bring him home. For a time he appeared to be getting better.
Put on sick list
But during the past fortnight Rex again became ill. and was placed on the sick list. People in Mitcham and Tooting were stopping P.-con. Holman in the street to ask how Rex was progressing; neighbours called in to get the latest reports.
The Holmans knew that Rex was very ill. Last week they were warned that his illness was almost certainly throat cancer. This was confirmed on Monday, and it was decided that the dog should be destroyed immediately.
In July, Rex, handled by P.-con. Holman, competed against 200 other dogs at the Metropolitan Police Horse Show to win a gold cup and the title “The most outstanding police dog of the year.”
One handler
Rex III, who was seven and a half, joined the police when he was a year old. Before that he was a guard dog at the French Embassy in London. From the time he joined the police, Rex worked only with P.-con. Holman.
Off duty, he was gentle and would happily play with children. On duty, he was the terror of thieves-they knew he could track them anywhere so long as they remained on foot.
With P.-con. Holman, the dog toured the country giving demonstrations-many of them to county police forces who were planning to introduce police dogs in their areas. He also gave demonstrations before members of the Royal Family, and starred in the feature film “Police Dog.”
One of Rex’s many spectacular arrests was made on home ground-in Tynemouth Road, only a few yards from his home. He chased and caught an Army absentee who fired at police as they chased him down the street.
Three shots were fired at the dog. One-fired at point blank range-blinded him momentarily, although the bullet missed. A second shot missed, and Rex went in to corner the man as a third bullet clipped his nose.
As a result of this incident, Rex III received two awards at a ceremony at Tooting police station.
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Police Dog (1955)
Directed by: Derek Twist
Written by: Derek Twist
Release Date: May 1955 (UK)
Running Time: 70 minutes
Plot Summary
Constables Mason and Lade pursue a burglar, but Lade is fatally shot before Mason can catch the culprit. Following the tragedy, Mason befriends Rex, a stray Alsatian recently brought into the station. With the original owners living abroad and donating the dog to the police, Mason and Rex begin rigorous training together. This new partnership causes tension with Mason’s girlfriend, Pat, who resents that Rex cannot be treated as a normal pet and feels he is drawing Mason’s attention away from their relationship.
After completing their training, Mason and Rex begin patrolling Hampstead. Meanwhile, Lade’s killer remains at large. Eventually, Mason and Rex are deployed to a factory where the armed killer is attempting to break into a safe. In the ensuing chase, Rex successfully restrains the criminal long enough for Mason to make the arrest. The film concludes with Pat arriving at the scene and reconciling with both Mason and Rex.
Main Cast
- Joan Rice as Pat Lewis
- Tim Turner as Frank Mason
- Sandra Dorne as the Blonde
- Charles Victor as Sergeant
- Rex III as the dog
- Nora Gordon as Mrs Lewis
- Cecil Brock as crook
- John Le Mesurier as C.I.D. inspector
- James Gilbert as Police Constable Lade
- Christopher Lee as Police Constable Johnny
Source: Wikipedia.
