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The PDSA Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 in the United Kingdom by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in World War II. It is a bronze medallion, bearing the words "For Gallantry" and "We Also Serve" within a laurel wreath, carried on a ribbon of striped green, dark brown, and pale blue. It is awarded to animals that have displayed "conspicuous gallantry or devotion to duty while serving or associated with any branch of the Armed Forces or Civil Defence Units". The award is commonly referred to as "the animals' Victoria Cross".
Beach Comber was a Canadian war pigeon who received the Dickin Medal for bravery in service during the Second World War.
Navy Blue was a pigeon who received the Dickin Medal in 1945 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Second World War.
Flying Dutchman was a pigeon who received the Dickin Medal in 1945 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Second World War.
Dutch Coast, also known as NURP.41. A.2164, was a pigeon who received the Dickin Medal in 1945 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Second World War.
Ruhr Express was a pigeon who received the Dickin Medal in May 1945 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Second World War.
Scotch Lass was a carrier pigeon who received the Dickin Medal in June 1945 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Second World War. She accompanied a British agent on a mission into The Netherlands. Immediately after she was released, in September 1944, and still in view of the agent that had released her, she hit telegraph wires. However, she carried on and delivered her message and photographs.
NPS.42.NS.2780 was a pigeon who received the Dickin Medal in October 1945 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Second World War. NPS.42 was cited after delivering important messages three times from enemy occupied territory, in July 1942, August 1942 and April 1943, while serving with the Special Service in Europe.
NPS.42.NS.7524 was a pigeon who received the Dickin Medal in 1945 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Second World War. The citation was received for delivering important messages on three occasions from enemy-held territory, in July 1942, May 1942 and July 1942, while serving with the Special Service on the continent.
Maquis (NPSNS.42.36392) was a pigeon that received the Dickin Medal in 1945 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Second World War. Maquis was cited for successfully delivering messages from enemy-occupied territory on three occasions. These were in May 1943, February 1944 and June 1944 while serving with the Special Service on the Continent.
Tommy (NURP.41.DHZ56) was a pigeon who received the Dickin Medal in 1946 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Second World War. Tommy was cited for delivering a valuable message from the Netherlands to Lancashire during difficult conditions while serving with the National Pigeon Service in July 1942.
Princess (42WD593) was a pigeon who received the Dickin Medal in 1946 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Second World War. Princess was cited after returning from a special mission to Crete to her loft at RAF Alexandria, a distance of around 500 miles primarily over sea, carrying valuable information. The citation describes the flight as one of the finest performances in the war record of the Pigeon Service.
Mercury was a pigeon who received the Dickin Medal in 1946 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Second World War.
NURP.38.BPC.6 was a pigeon who received the Dickin Medal in 1946 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Second World War.
Cologne was a pigeon who received the Dickin Medal in 1947 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Second World War.
Duke of Normandy was a pigeon who received the Dickin Medal in 1947 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Second World War. Duke of Normandy was the first bird to arrive back with a message from the paratroops of 21st Army Group on D-Day after the capture of a gun battery at Merville.
NURP.43.CC.1418 was a pigeon who received the Dickin Medal in 1947 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Second World War. NURP.43 received the citation for the fastest flight carrying a message from the 6th Airborne Division from Normandy on 7 June 1944, while serving with the National Pigeon Service.
DD.43.T.139 was a pigeon who received the Dickin Medal in February 1947 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the World War II. Serving with the Australian Army Signal Corps, DD.43.T.139 was cited for homing 40 miles (64 km) to Madang, Papua New Guinea during a heavy tropical storm after being released from an Australian army boat that was foundering. The message allowed a rescue ship to be sent in time to salvage the craft and its cargo of stores and ammunition.
DD.43.Q.879 was a pigeon who received the Dickin Medal in 1947 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Second World War. During an attack on a US Marine patrol by Japanese forces on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, three pigeons were released to warn headquarters of an impending enemy counter attack. Two were killed by enemy fire, but DD.43 successfully reached headquarters, allowing bombing attacks to be directed at enemy forces and for the patrol to be extracted.
Broad Arrow, was a messenger pigeon that was awarded the Dickin Medal in October 1945 for carrying three important messages for the National Pigeon Service. These were carried in May 1943, June 1943 and August 1943.
References
- ↑ "Dickin medal pigeons". PDSA. Archived from the original on 13 February 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
