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Homing pigeons have long played an important role in war. Due to their homing ability, speed and altitude, they were often used as military messengers. Carrier pigeons of the Racing Homer breed were used to carry messages in World War I and World War II, and 32 such pigeons were presented with the Dickin Medal.
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.
The National Pigeon Service (NPS) was a volunteer civilian organization formed in Britain in 1938 as result of representations made to the Committee of Imperial Defence and the British Government by Major W. H. Osman. During 1939-45 over 200,000 young pigeons were given to the services by the British pigeon breeders of the NPS. The birds were used by the Royal Air Force and the Army and Intelligence Services, Special Section of the Army Pigeon Service. During three and a half years of World War II, 16,554 war pigeons were parachuted onto the continent. One of these was Commando, a red chequer cock bird that became a recipient of the Dickin Medal. Many other NPS pigeons also received the Dickin Medal.
White Vision, also known by her service number SURP.41.L.3089, was a female Second World War homing pigeon who served with the National Pigeon Service and was posted to No. 190 Squadron RAF. She was awarded the Dickin Medal for gallantry in 1943 for delivering a message from a flying boat forced to ditch off the coast of Scotland.
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.
Beach Comber was a Canadian war pigeon who received the Dickin Medal for bravery in service during the Second World War.
Kenley Lass was a war 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. Kenley Lass received the award after it was the first pigeon to deliver intelligence from an agent in enemy-occupied France in October 1940. After parachuting in with the agent, Kenley Lass was released after 12 days and made the 300 mile flight back home in less than 7 hours.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lucky was a dog who received the Dickin Medal in 2007 from the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals for bravery in service during the Malayan Emergency.
References
- 1 2 "Dickin medal pigeons". PDSA. Archived from the original on 13 February 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
- ↑ Hawthorne, Peter. (2012). The animal Victoria Cross. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military. ISBN 9781781590423. OCLC 806201117.
