The Scarlett Point Terrier is named after the Scarlett Point Radar Station on the Isle of Man where they were first bred during World War II.
It seems that when the Chain Home radar stations were first being built around 1939, it was not always easy for the operators to tell the difference between an airplane and a flock or birds.
At the Scarlett Point Radar Station, however, there was a young radio operator who noticed that his terrier would sit up and cock his head at about the same time as an airplane first appeared on scope. The dog never paid any mind if it was a flock of birds, however. Clearly the dog could hear the airplanes from a great distance!
After that, small prick-eared terriers where acquired and used to "zero in" and calibrate all of the radar stations ringing Britain. Without those dogs, the people of Great Britain might very well be speaking German today!
After the war, a few old radar operators bred the dogs and kept the breed alive up into the 1970s. A few descendants of these dog are reported to be around, but without a concerted breeding program to rescue these heirloom dogs, they may yet slip into oblivion. Time for an SOS! Save our Scarlett terriers!
..
7 comments:
Radar operators used to speak of "spoofing." Might that be what you are doing here?
As true a dog history as exists!
I have footnotes, location, pictures, history. What more do you want?
It's not like I am claiming the dog was made up by some ridiculous person for some ridiculous reason, is it? Have I claimed some left-wing banker named Dudley invented this dog? I have not! That would be a farce.
Have I said this dog was created by a German who named it after pre0historic Africans though the dog was actually a pariah dog from Spain located in an area governed by the British where they spoke Italian? I have not! That would be ridiculous.
Have I said this dog was invented by a burlesque stripper who claimed it was a hairless dog from Asia, when really it was a dog from Michigan that was routinely shaved? I have not. That would be absurd.
No, this is true history.
Or as true as any other.
Tell me what you are looking for in a dog. Tell me what kind of romantic history excites you. I may have exactly what you are looking for!
"...when really it was a dog from Michigan that was routinely shaved?"
Sir! Only dogs from the lower Peninsula of Michigan (excepting those found in the vicinity of Ann Arbor) are routinely shaved.
You paint with too broad of a brush.
Not a dog story, but I introduced the Northumbrian Marching Cat to the US. The Battle of Heavenfield was fought in 633 between a Northumbrian army under Oswald of Bernicia and a Welsh army under Cadwallon ap Cadfan of Gwynedd. The battle resulted in a decisive Northumbrian victory. The Annales Cambriae (Annals of Wales) record the battle as Bellum Cantscaul in 631. Bede referred to it as the Battle of Deniseburna near Hefenfelth. Oswald raised his army and had them dig in defensive positions north of modern day Hexham in wait of Cadwallons forces. Feeding the army was troublesome and cats were brought in to reduce spoil caused by rats. After a great victory, Oswald gave thanks not to the Christian God as is commonly believed, the Venerable Bede in his magnus opus Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum reveals that Oswald credited victory to his cats. As tribute to leading his victory his cats were to march in the vanguard in every future battle. Very few surviving lines exist from Oswalds original cats however the Northumbrian Marching Cat is a rare survivor of the dark ages.
Sadler, John. Battle for Northumbria, 1988, Bridge Studios, (pages 25–29) ISBN 0-9512630-3-X
Marsden, John. Northanhymbre Saga, 1992, Kyle Cathie Limited, (pages 113–117) ISBN 1-85626-055-0
Nice! ISBN # is inspired. Worthy of a Michael Crichton Andromeda Strain footnote.
Another stories breed worth preservting >> https://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-bactrian-terrier.html
Hmmm....Judging from the date of the post have I gone to far by starting a go-fund-me for the breed? Asking for a friend.
Post a Comment