Juliana, a Great Dane living in Britain during World War II, became one of the most unusual recipients of the Blue Cross medal – the United Kingdom’s highest civilian award for animal bravery. She is one of the very few animals ever to receive the medal twice.

In April 1941, during the height of the Blitz, an incendiary bomb crashed through the roof of her owner’s home in the West Midlands. According to the family’s account, Juliana sprang into action and extinguished the burning device by urinating on it. Her quick thinking prevented a major fire from spreading and likely saved the entire household.

Three years later, in November 1944, Juliana earned her second Blue Cross medal. This time she alerted her owners to a fire that had broken out in their shop, allowing them to extinguish the flames before they could spread.

Her remarkable double honour turned Juliana into a wartime legend. In 2013, a portrait of the heroic dog displayed alongside her second medal sold at auction for £1,100, bringing her extraordinary story back into the public eye.

The Blue Cross medal has been awarded since 1897 to animals that demonstrate outstanding courage, loyalty, and devotion. Juliana’s unique blend of bravery and resourcefulness remains one of the most memorable tales of animal heroism from the Second World War.