Meet Scrumpy, the adorable real sea dog making waves aboard Britain’s flagship

He may not bark orders – but Scrumpy is already making waves aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth. The Jackapoo crossbreed has joined the Royal Navy’s flagship as an honorary member of the command team, accompanying the ship’s captain on rounds and enthusiastically sniffing out any forgotten treats.

In a light-hearted post, the ship’s crew introduced Scrumpy as its latest recruit, adding that while he may not be an official watchkeeper, he’s quickly won over the company. Animals once played a familiar role aboard Royal Navy vessels, particularly cats brought on board to catch rats and mice that threatened supplies and wiring. The practice was banned in 1975 on health and safety grounds, though service dogs and assistance animals are still permitted in some circumstances. 

“Scrumpy particularly enjoys helping our CO conduct rounds, where he gets to meet our sailors and see what biscuits are left over from stand easy”, said the vessel’s social media page. 

Among the Navy’s most famed mascots was Blackie, a ship’s cat aboard HMS Prince of Wales during the Second World War. He accompanied Winston Churchill on his historic 1941 voyage to meet U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and survived the ship’s sinking later that year, eventually making it to Singapore with the remaining crew.

Another legendary feline was Simon, who served aboard HMS Amethyst during the Yangtze Incident in 1949. Despite being wounded in a bombardment that killed 25 sailors, Simon recovered and continued his rat-catching duties, earning the title of “Able Sea Cat” for his service during the ship’s dramatic escape and return home.

Scrumpy follows in pawprints of more recent four-legged visitors too. In 2022, sailors on HMS Prince of Wales were cheered by a visit from US Navy therapy dogs Ike and Sage, part of the welfare teams aboard USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Wasp. The visit, arranged by U.S. charity Mutts with a Mission, brought a welcome morale boost.

“They made me feel like I was back at home,” said twenty-four-year-old air engineer AET Harry Thomas, 24, on his first deployment. “I’ve got two dogs at home and seeing them made me realise how much I miss them.”

Now Scrumpy’s presence is bringing that same warmth to HMS Queen Elizabeth — proving that even in the most advanced warship, there’s always room for a sea dog.