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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".
Commando was a pigeon used in service with the British armed forces during the Second World War to carry crucial intelligence. The pigeon carried out more than ninety missions during the war, and received the Dickin Medal for three particularly notable missions in 1945. The medal was later sold at an auction for £9,200.
Royal Blue, also known as NURP.40.GVIS.453, was a male pigeon of the RAF pigeon service. He was awarded the Dickin Medal for bravery in March 1945 for being the first pigeon to deliver a message from an allied forced landed aircraft from the European mainland during World War II. He had originally been housed at the Royal Lofts at Sandringham, and was owned by King George VI.
Gustav, also known as NPS.42.31066, was a pigeon of the RAF pigeon service. He was awarded the Dickin Medal, also known as the animals' Victoria Cross, for bringing the first report of the Normandy landings to the British mainland during the Second World War.
Peter (1941–1952) was a collie dog who in 1945 was awarded the Dickin Medal, considered to be the Victoria Cross for animals. During the later stages of the Second World War he served as a search and rescue dog in London. He attended the 1946 Civil Defence Stand–Down parade, where he was presented to the King and Queen, and Princess Elizabeth. His medal was auctioned in 2000 for £4,600 (US$6,964).
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.
Billy 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.
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.
All Alone (NURP.39.SDS.39) was a war pigeon who was decorated for bravery in service during the Second World War for delivering an important secret message in one day over a distance of 400 miles (640 km), while serving with the National Pigeon Service in August, 1943.
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.
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.
References
- ↑ Clive D. L. Wynne (2004). Do animals think? . Princeton University Press. p. 153. ISBN 0-691-11311-4.
- ↑ "Valiant war pigeons homing in on bravery medal". Manchester Evening News. 2007-12-12. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
- ↑ "Gloucester Day By Day". Gloucester Citizen. Vol. 71, no. 41. British Newspaper Archive. 18 June 1945. p. 4. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
