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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
References
- 1 2 "Dickin medal pigeons". PDSA. Archived from the original on 13 February 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
- ↑ Harlow, Joan Hiatt (2003). Shadows on the Sea. New York, NY, US: Margaret K. McElderry Books. p. 255. ISBN 978-0-689-84926-8.
- ↑ Cleaver, Hylton (June 1951). "They've earned their corn". Men Only: 101.
