Simon was badly hurt. Burned. Shrapnel wounds. Everyone thought he wouldn’t make it.

The Amethyst was stranded mid-river for almost 10 weeks.

Under siege and overrun with rats.

One giant rat - nicknamed Mao Tse-tung, kept attacking the ship’s food stores. Morale was collapsing.

But after days in sick bay, bandaged and limping…

Simon got up.

Hunted Mao.

And won.

The crew promoted him to Able Seaman. He lifted spirits when nothing else could… and kept the Amethyst alive.

Simon became the only cat in Royal Navy history to receive the Dickin Medal.

Shortly after, he passed away from his injuries. But his story became legend.

The Maritime Origins Series

Maritime Origins is a storytelling series created by Jason Nangle, Founder of Angle Recruitment, a global maritime recruitment and executive search firm.

The series explores the fascinating history behind everyday phrases that originated at sea, as well as the remarkable stories, traditions and characters that have shaped maritime culture.

Many sayings still used today were first spoken by sailors navigating the challenges of life on board ships. Alongside these phrase origins, the series also highlights lesser-known maritime stories, legends and historical moments from the world of shipping.

Through short stories and visual posts, Maritime Origins connects the language, heritage and traditions of seafarers with the modern maritime industry.

New posts in the series launch every Tuesday on LinkedIn and are then shared across other platforms including Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and X. Follow Jason Nangle on LinkedIn and Angle Recruitment across your preferred social platforms.