Whilst looking for infomation on WW2 Related VC's I came across the animals VC. Dickin Medal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia World War II era 1943: Winkie – first pigeon to be awarded the medal; flew 120 miles from a crashed bomber to deliver an SOS. In all 32 pigeons were awarded the medal in World War II. 1943: Ruhr Express – a messenger pigeon 1944: Commando – a messenger pigeon 1944: Paddy – messenger pigeon that made the fastest recorded crossing of the English Channel, delivering messages from Normandy for D-Day, travelling 230 miles in 4 hours 5 minutes. 1944: William of Orange – used in the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944 saving 2000 soldiers 1945: Rex – A rescue dog was officially recorded to have saved 65 people in London's flying bomb blitz. 1946: G.I. Joe – a messenger pigeon and the only American bird or animal to be awarded the medal in WW II. The US Air Force was to bomb the city of Calvi Risorta in Italy at 11 am on October 18, 1943, however, British troops captured the city at 10 am and attempts to cancel the raid by radio failed. G.I. Joe had been borrowed from the American airfield earlier and, released with a message to stop the raid, arrived as the bombers were about to take off. An estimated 1,000 British troops could have died if the bombing had gone ahead. 1946: Judy – a ship's dog and the only animal to have been officially registered as a Japanese prisoner of war. 1947: Olga, Upstart and Regal – three police horses involved in incidents following German bombing raids, the first two involving flying bombs and the third an attack involving explosive incendiaries 1949: Simon – the ship's cat on HMS Amethyst during the Yangtze Incident, noted for surviving injuries from a cannon shell, raising morale and killing off a rat infestation during the incident, by doing this duty despite being wounded. He was raised to the fanciful rank of "Able Seacat" and awarded a campaign medal. The medal was sold by the Royal Navy and is now a valuable collectors item, partly because Simon has been the only cat to win the medal. Cheers Andy
An interesting little known recognition for the service of animals. Thanks for posting it , Andy. cheers. phil
Labrador receives Dickin Medal for work in Afghanistan - Telegraph See it on the news this morning. Well deserved. Great looking dog too.
See it on the news this morning. Well deserved. Great looking dog too. He has no tail bless him and yes he's very photogenic
I applaud the fact that this dog has probably saved the lives of many a serviceman and stopped many more being injured. Whether the animal knows it or not he has done a marvellous job protecting troops. David
Hi. Just saw this in relation to Paddy the Pigeon. BBC News - Wartime hero pigeon Paddy honoured with fly-past This makes me smile: "A feathered fly-past of pigeons formed part of the Paddy Memorial Day"
I remember reading on the Britains small wars site ...one of best sites on net by the way...that the Amathyst cat was lucky not to end up in a curry never mind a medal..I love the romantic side...I also love servicemans reality..
BBC NEWS | UK | England | London | War hero dog's medal is auctioned Friday, 24 April 2009 Rip was found homeless and starving in 1940 War hero dog's medal is auctioned A medal awarded to a stray dog which helped to find trapped survivors in London during the Blitz has been sold at auction for £24,250. Rip the mongrel was awarded the Dickin Medal after helping to find more than 100 victims of air raids. Found homeless and starving in 1940, Rip was adopted by an air raid warden based at Southill Street Air Raid Patrol in Poplar, east London. The medal is considered the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross. The founder of veterinary charity PDSA, Maria Dickin, began awarding the medals in 1943 to recognise animals which showed "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty". Since its introduction, 62 have been awarded to dogs, pigeons, horses and a cat. The warden found the dog, which had no official training, was always on duty, never got in the way and was quick to locate casualties. Rip's success was partially responsible for prompting the authorities, towards the end of the Second World War, to train dogs officially to trace casualties. He died in 1948 and was the first of 12 "supreme animal heroes" to be buried in the PDSA cemetery in Ilford, Essex. The medal was auctioned at Spink in central London. Rip wore the medal on his collar for the rest of his life
BBC NEWS | UK | Spy pigeon's medal fetches £9,200 Tuesday, 30 November, 2004 Commando, pictured with the rare medal he won during World War II Spy pigeon's medal fetches £9,200 A rare bravery medal awarded to a pigeon which flew vital intelligence out of occupied France in World War II has been sold at auction for £9,200. The PDSA Dickin medal was awarded to Commando the pigeon, which was bred in Haywards Heath in West Sussex. The medal, the animal version of the Victoria Cross, was put up for auction by the grandson of the pigeon's owner. It was bought by a British collector who already has three such medals given to pigeons for bravery. Commando, of the National Pigeon Service, distinguished himself in three covert missions helping British agents against the Nazis. Parachuted into France, he flew crucial intelligence, strapped to his leg in a tiny canister, back to Britain in June, August and September 1942. The information revealed the location of German troops, industrial sites and injured British soldiers. 'Conspicuous bravery' Commando, a red chequer cock bird, had only a one in eight chance of surviving, facing such hazards as German marksmen, exhaustion and even enemy trained hawks. His owner, Sid Moon, had served with the Army Pigeon Service, during the First World War. He immediately made his pigeons available again following the outbreak of war in 1939. Commando was among 200,000 messenger pigeons volunteered for service by breeders during the conflict. He received his medal in 1945 for his "conspicuous bravery and devotion" before he was put out to stud. His name appears on a roll of honour alongside Royal Blue, the King's pigeon from the Royal Loft at Sandringham, Norfolk. The PDSA Dickin Medal, created in 1943, was named after Maria Dickin, who founded the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals.
BBC NEWS | UK | England | Hampshire | Hero pigeon's WWII medal on show Wednesday, 1 June, 2005 Gustav was awarded his medal in 1944 (pic PDSA) Hero pigeon's WWII medal on show A WWII medal awarded to an heroic pigeon whose story inspired a Hollywood film, is to go on display. Gustav, trained by Frederick Jackson, of Cosham, Hampshire, was the first of the RAF's Homing Pigeon Service to bring back news of D-Day to the UK. The bird's Dickin Medal, one of 32 awarded to pigeons who carried secret messages during WWII, is due to go on show at Portsmouth's D-Day museum. Their story was recently made into the film Valiant, starring Ewan MacGregor. Gustav was one of six carrier pigeons given by the RAF to Reuters war correspondent Montague Taylor, who had gone with Allied Forces across the English Channel. The birds were taken to battle in wicker baskets on servicemen's backs and set free to fly home with vital information. Gustav was released off the Normandy coast and, faced with headwinds of up to 30mph and no sun to guide him on a cloudy day, he flew 150 miles to a pigeon loft in Thorney Island, near Portsmouth, in a journey that lasted five hours and 16 minutes. His handler, Sgt Harry Halsey took the message that read: "We are just 20 miles or so off the beaches. "First assault troops landed 0750. Signal says no interference from enemy gunfire on beach... Steaming steadily in formation. "Lightnings, typhoons, fortresses crossing since 0545. No enemy aircraft seen." Gustav was awarded his honour by Maria Dickin, founder of animal charity the PDSA, on 1 September 1944, one of only 60 animals to ever receive the bravery accolade. Paul Raymond, head of museums and records services, said: "With the 61st anniversary of D-Day on 6 June this is the first time the medal has been displayed in Portsmouth. "Gustav was a real local hero, putting his life on the line to bring back vital information on the success of D-Day. "The family which owned him have very kindly lent the museum his medal, giving everyone in the city the opportunity to find out about a fascinating part of our local history."
PDSA website PDSA Dickin medal PDSA Dickin medal Instituted in 1943 by PDSA’s founder Maria Dickin, it acknowledges outstanding acts of bravery displayed by animals serving with the Armed Forces or Civil Defence units in any theatre of war, worldwide.
1946: Judy – a ship's dog and the only animal to have been officially registered as a Japanese prisoner of war. The story of Judy is one I particularly enjoy. There was a news article done about her not to long ago I think. Found it: Judy, the dogged PoW who defied the Japanese | Mail Online
After the Battle Magazine done a feature on the P.D.S.A burial ground which had numerous graves for animals awarded the Dickin Medal each grave had a Headstone.In Calderstones Park Liverpool there is a Memorial and Grave to Jet of Iada who was a war resacue dog who was awarded the D.M.
The story of 'Winkie' is regularly told at No 42 Sqn dinners. I'll see if I can get some of the details. Roxy
Simon, of HMS Amethyst more details here Purr-n-Fur UK: Simon, of HMS Amethyst, awarded the Dickin Medal as the germans say 'four paws sprung tecnique'
Is there a memorial to honor those who were awarded the Dickin Medal? Did these veterans receive military burials? Irma was an Alsatian, awarded the Dickin Medal for helping save 191 lives of those trapped under blitzed buildings. Her owner, Margaret Griffin, also received the British Empire Medal for her excellence in dog training. (Image via.)
A mixed-breed terrier, Rip received the Dickin Medal in 1945 for bravery, saving the lives of over 100 people. He was the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals's (PDSA) first search and rescue dog, and the first of twelve Dickin winners who were buried at their cemetery in Ilford, Essex. (Image via.) Does anyone have photographs of the cemetery in Ilford? Does anyone have a list of the Dickin winners who are buried in Ilford?
Quite a bit of info on the forum on this-Have a go on the forums search engine. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/general/18202-dickin-medal.html
