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Dickin Medal

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PDSA Dickin Medal
Bronze medal encircled in a laurel wreath and inscribed "PDSA For Gallantry We Also Serve" held from a ring suspender by a ribbon consisting of three equal vertical stripes of dark green, brown and pale blue
The PDSA Dickin Medal (obverse)
DescriptionConspicuous gallantry or devotion to duty while serving in military conflict.
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented byPeople's Dispensary for Sick Animals
First awarded1943
WebsitePDSA Dickin Medal

The PDSA Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 in the United Kingdom by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in war. 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.[1] 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".[1] The award is commonly referred to as "the animals' Victoria Cross".[1][2][3]

Maria Dickin was the founder of the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), a British veterinary charity. She established the award for any animal displaying conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty whilst serving with British Empire armed forces or civil emergency services. The medal was awarded 54 times between 1943 and 1949 – to 32 pigeons, 18 dogs, three horses, and one cat – to acknowledge actions of gallantry or devotion during the Second World War, and subsequent conflicts.

The awarding of the medal was revived in 2000 to honour Gander, a Newfoundland dog who saved infantrymen during the Battle of Lye Mun. In early 2002, the medal was given in honour of three dogs for their role responding to the September 11 attacks; it was also awarded to two dogs serving with Commonwealth forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iraq. In December 2007, 12 former recipients buried at the PDSA Animal Cemetery in Ilford, Essex, were afforded full military honours at the conclusion of a National Lottery-aided project to restore the cemetery.[4][5]

The first recipients of the award, in December 1943, were three pigeons, serving with the Royal Air Force, all of whom contributed to the recovery of air crew from ditched aircraft during the Second World War. The most recent animal to be honoured is Theo, a search dog serving in Afghanistan. As of October 2012, the Dickin Medal has been awarded 64 times.[1]

Recipients

A dog receiving a medal while surrounded by a number of men in military uniform
Rob the Collie, receiving his medal
A dog standing in the remains of a destroyed building
Rip helped locate a number of victims of The Blitz.
A dog sitting on the deck of a ship, being spoken to by a man in a military uniform
Judy was a ship's dog on both HMS Gnat and HMS Grasshopper.
A pigeon, at rest, facing to the right. It has dark feathers on its head and neck, with two dark stripes two-thirds of the way down its pale wings.
William of Orange was awarded the medal in 1945 for delivering a message from Operation Market Garden.
Recipient(s) Animal Date of award Notes Ref(s)
White Vision Pigeon 2 December 1943 Delivered a message that contributed to the rescue of a ditched aircrew in October 1943 [6]
[7]
Winkie Pigeon 2 December 1943 Delivered a message that contributed to the rescue of a ditched aircrew in February 1942 [8]
[9]
[10]
Tyke Pigeon 2 December 1943 Delivered a message that contributed to the rescue of a ditched aircrew in June 1943 [11]
Bob Dog 24 March 1944 A mongrel, worked on patrol at Green Hill, North Africa; served with the 6th Battalion Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment [10]
Beach Comber Pigeon 1 September 1944 Brought the first news of the landings at Dieppe in 1942; served with the Canadian Army [10]
Gustav Pigeon 1 September 1944 Brought the first message from the Normandy beaches on 6 June 1944 [9]
Paddy Pigeon 1 September 1944 Held best recorded time with a message from the Normandy Operations in June 1944 [12]
[13]
Rip Dog 1945 A mongrel, located many victims of the air-raids of The Blitz [14]
Jet Dog 12 January 1945 An Alsatian,[B] assisted in the rescue of persons trapped under blitzed buildings; served with the Civil Defence Service [6]
[10]
Irma Dog 12 January 1945 An Alsatian,[B] assisted in the rescue of persons trapped under blitzed buildings; served with the Civil Defence Service [6]
[15]
Beauty Dog 12 January 1945 A Wirehaired Terrier, assisted in the location of buried air-raid victims; served with a PDSA Rescue Squad [6]
Rob Dog 22 January 1945 A Collie, made over 20 parachute descents during the North African Campaign; served with the Special Air Service (SAS)[A] [6]
[8]
[10]
Kenley Lass Pigeon March 1945 First pigeon to deliver intelligence from an agent in enemy-occupied France in October 1940; served with the National Pigeon Service [16]
Navy Blue Pigeon March 1945 Although injured, delivered a message from a raiding party in France, June 1944 [11]
Flying Dutchman Pigeon March 1945 Delivered three messages from agents in the Netherlands; missing in action on the fourth mission in 1944 [11]
Dutch Coast Pigeon March 1945 Delivered an SOS message from a ditched aircrew 288 miles in 7.5 hours in April 1942 [10]
Commando Pigeon March 1945 Delivered three messages from agents in occupied France; served with the National Pigeon Service [10]
Royal Blue Pigeon March 1945 First pigeon of the war to deliver a message from a forced landed aircraft on the Continent in October 1940 [11]
Thorn Dog 2 March 1945 An Alsatian,[B] located air-raid casualties in a burning building; served with the Civil Defence Service [17]
Rifleman Khan Dog 27 March 1945 An Alsatian,[B] rescued a soldier from drowning while under heavy shell fire during the assault of Walcheren in November 1944; served with the 6th Battalion Cameronians [17]
Rex Dog April 1945 An Alsatian,[B] located casualties in burning buildings; served with the Civil Defence Service [10]
Ruhr Express Pigeon May 1945 Carried an important message from the Ruhr Pocket in April 1945 [11]
William of Orange Pigeon May 1945 Held the record time for delivering a message from the Arnhem Airborne Operation; served with the National Pigeon Service (Army) [18]
Scotch Lass Pigeon June 1945 Brought 38 microphotographs across the North Sea from the Netherlands, despite injury, in September 1944 [11]
Sheila Dog 2 July 1945 A Collie, assisted in the rescue of four American airmen lost on the Cheviot Hills in a blizzard after a crash in December 1944 [10]
Billy Pigeon August 1945 Delivered a message from a bomber which had been force-landed in 1942 [11]
Broad Arrow Pigeon October 1945 Brought three important messages from the Continent in 1943; served with the National Pigeon Service (Special Section) [11]
NPS.42.NS.2780 Pigeon October 1945 Brought three important messages from the Continent in 1942 and 1943; served with the National Pigeon Service (Special Section) [11]
NPS.42.NS.7524 Pigeon October 1945 Brought three important messages from the Continent in 1942 and 1943; served with the National Pigeon Service (Special Section) [11]
Maquis Pigeon October 1945 Brought three important messages from the Continent from 1943 and 1944; served with the National Pigeon Service (Special Section) [11]
Mary of Exeter Pigeon November 1945 Showed outstanding endurance on war service despite injury [7]
[10]
Peter Dog November 1945 A Collie, located people trapped under blitzed buildings; served with the Civil Defence Service [6]
[15]
Tommy Pigeon February 1946 Delivered a message from the Netherlands to Lancashire in July 1942; served with the National Pigeon Service [11]
All Alone Pigeon February 1946 Delivered an important message following a flight of over 400 miles in one day in August 1943; served with the National Pigeon Service [11]
Judy Dog May 1946 A pedigree Pointer, helped keep morale high among fellow prisoners in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp [10]
Princess Pigeon May 1946 Completed a special mission to Crete, a journey of more than 500 miles over sea, with valuable information [9]
Mercury Pigeon August 1946 Carried out a special task involving a 480-mile flight from Northern Denmark in 1942; served with the National Pigeon Service (Special Section) [19]
NURP.38.BPC.6 Pigeon August 1946 Made three flights in 1941; served with the National Pigeon Service (Special Section) [11]
G.I. Joe Pigeon August 1946 Flew 20 miles in as many minutes, delivering a message which is credited with saving over 100 lives; served with the United States Army Pigeon Service [9]
Punch and Judy Dogs November 1946 Boxers, saved two British officers in Palestine by attacking a nationalist [20]
Cologne Pigeon 1947 Homed from a crashed aircraft over Cologne despite injury in 1943 [9]
Duke of Normandy Pigeon 8 January 1947 First bird to arrive with message from Paratroops of 21st Army Group on D Day (6 June 1944); served with the National Pigeon Service [10]
NURP.43.CC.1418 Pigeon 8 January 1947 Fastest flight carrying a message from the 6th Airborne Division from Normandy, 7 June 1944; served with the National Pigeon Service [11]
DD.43.T.139 Pigeon February 1947 Brought message of foundered ship in the Huon Gulf in time to salvage it and its cargo; served with the Royal Australian Corps of Signals [10]
DD.43.Q.879 Pigeon February 1947 Only survivor of three pigeons released to warn of an impending counter-attack at Manus Island. Reached headquarters in time to extract a U.S. Marine Corps patrol; served with the Royal Australian Corps of Signals [16]
Ricky Dog 29 March 1947 A Welsh Collie, located mines along a canal bank at Nederweert in the Netherlands, despite being injured by one [10]
Bing (Brian) Dog 29 March 1947 An Alsatian,[B] parachuted into Normandy with 13th Battalion, 6th Airborne Division. [6]
[21]
Olga Horse 11 April 1947 Controlled traffic and assisted rescue operations following a flying bomb explosion in Tooting; served with the police [6]
[10]
Upstart Horse 11 April 1947 Controlled traffic following a flying bomb exploding in Bethnal Green; served with the police [6]
[10]
Regal Horse 11 April 1947 Remained calm despite being subject to stable fires in Muswell Hill caused by explosive incendiaries on two separate occasions [6]
[10]
Simon Cat 1949 HMS Amethyst's ship's cat, awarded for the disposal of many rats despite injury [14]
Antis Dog 28 January 1949 An Alsatian,[B] served with a Czech airman in the French Air Force in North Africa, and helped his master escape after the death of Jan Masaryk [22]
Tich Dog 1 July 1949 A mongrel, awarded for courage and devotion between 1941–45; served with the 1st Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps [14]
Gander Dog 27 October 2000 A Newfoundland, saved Canadian infantrymen on at least three separate occasions during the Battle of Lye Mun on Hong Kong Island in December 1941; killed in action gathering a grenade [15]
Appollo Dog 5 March 2002 An Alsatian,[B] received the award on behalf of all search-and-rescue dogs who assisted in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in 2001 [23]
Salty and Roselle Dogs 5 March 2002 Labrador guide dogs, led their blind owners down more than 70 flights of stairs to escape from the damaged World Trade Center in September 2001 [23]
Sam Dog 14 January 2003 An Alsatian,[B] brought down an armed man and held back rioters while serving in Bosnia and Herzegovina in April 1998; served with The Royal Canadian Regiment on assignment from the Royal Army Veterinary Corps [24]
Buster Dog 9 December 2003 A Springer Spaniel, located a weapons arsenal in Safwan, Southern Iraq in March 2003; served with the Duke of Wellington's Regiment [8]
[10]
Lucky Dog 6 February 2007 An Alsatian,[B] the only member of a four-dog team to survive tracking nationalists in Malaya from 1949 to 1952; served with the Royal Air Force Police [25]
Sadie Dog 6 February 2007 A Labrador, detected explosive devices, which were subsequently disarmed, while serving in Kabul, Afghanistan, in November 2005; served with the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment [26]
Treo Dog 24 February 2010 A Labrador, located improvised explosive devices while serving in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in August and September 2008; served with Royal Army Veterinary Corps [27]
Theo Dog 25 October 2012 A Springer Spaniel, who located improvised explosive devices while serving in Afghanistan, holds the record for most operational finds by an arms and explosives search dog with 14. [28]

See also

Notes

  • A ^ Rob was awarded the Dickin Medal in 1945 for taking part in more than 20 parachute drops and for his involvement in operations behind enemy lines in Italy and North Africa during the Second World War. There is evidence that his record is a hoax concocted by the training officer at 2nd SAS at the time so that the dog would remain with the regiment.[29][30][31]
  • B ^ The German Shepherd Dog breed was renamed in the UK by The Kennel Club in 1919 to Alsatian Wolf Dog. During the 1920s, the Wolf Dog part of the name fell out of use and dogs of this breed were simply known as Alsatians.[32] The name had been reverted in most countries by 1977 to German Shepherd Dog.[33]

References

General
  • "Dickin medal pigeons". People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA). Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  • "Dickin medal dogs". PDSA. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  • "Dickin medal cats". PDSA. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  • "Dickin medal horses". PDSA. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
Specific
  1. ^ a b c d "PDSA Dickin Medal". PDSA. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  2. ^ "Military search dog to receive animals' Victoria Cross". Ministry of Defence. 8 February 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
  3. ^ "The Animals' VC". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
  4. ^ Clout, Laura (14 December 2007). "A better resting place for the animal VCs". The Daily Telegraph. p. 12.
  5. ^ "Celebrity to open animal Garden of Remembrance". PDSA. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "UK honors glow worm war heroes". CNN. 24 November 2004. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  7. ^ a b Bell, Sarah (13 December 2007). "Fitting tribute to animal heroes". BBC News. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  8. ^ a b c "Animal war heroes statue unveiled". BBC News. 24 November 2004. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  9. ^ a b c d e Herbert, Ian (23 March 2005). "The hero of the latest British war movie is a pigeon called Valiant. A flight of fancy? No, it's based on real life". The Independent. London. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Animals at War captions" (PDF). Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Dickin medal pigeons". PDSA. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  12. ^ Shulman, Calvin (11 December 2007). "Top 50 greatest sporting animals". The Times. London. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  13. ^ "Paddy the pigeon decorated for bravery in fight against Hitler". The Belfast Telegraph. 16 September 2009. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  14. ^ a b c "Ilford Animal Cemetery". PDSA. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  15. ^ a b c Judd, Terri (16 August 2000). "'Animal VC' will honour Gander's dash for grenade". The Independent. London. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  16. ^ a b Clive D. L. Wynne. Do animals think?. Princeton University Press. p. 153. ISBN 0-691-11311-4.
  17. ^ a b "Dickin medal dogs". People's Dispensary for Sick Animals. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  18. ^ "Royal Signals Museum – Recent Articles". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
  19. ^ "Catch the Pigeon". National Army Museum. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  20. ^ "Dickin medal dogs". PDSA. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  21. ^ "The PDSA Dickin Medal". Paradata.org.uk. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  22. ^ Velinger, Jan (18 March 2009). "The story of a Czech WW II airman and his remarkable dog". Radio Prague. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  23. ^ a b "Life Saving" (PDF). Imperial War Museum London. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2009.
  24. ^ Tibbetts, Graham (20 December 2002). "Army dog Sam wins a posthumous 'VC'". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  25. ^ Gabbatt, Adam (24 February 2010). "Heroic labrador awarded animals' Victoria Cross". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  26. ^ "In pictures: Sadie the hero dog gets a medal". BBC. 6 February 2007. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  27. ^ "Sniffer dog Treo is honoured with PDSA Dickin Medal". BBC News. 24 February 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  28. ^ "Army dog given posthumous medal for Afghanistan work". BBC News. 25 October 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  29. ^ Malvern, Jack (20 July 2006). "War heroics were a shaggy dog story". The Times. London. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  30. ^ Malvern, Jack (24 February 2010). "Dickin Medal awarded to Treo the bomb-sniffing military labrador". The Times. London. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
  31. ^ Alleyne, Richard (21 July 2006). "SAS reports of canine heroics 'just a shaggy dog story'". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
  32. ^ Stevens, Katrina (June 2002). The German Shepherd Dog: A Comprehensive Guide to Buying, Owning, and Training. Breed Basics. Willow Creek Press. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-57223-512-0. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  33. ^ Mantellato, Lisa (2008). Getting to Know German Shepherds. Animal Info. p. 13. ISBN 978-1-921537-09-7. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dickin Medal.
  • "World Wars I and II". American Racing Pigeon Union. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  • "War of the Birds (2005)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 4 March 2010. A documentary about pigeons involved in the Second World War, many of whom won the Dickin Medal
  • "In pictures: Heroic dogs". BBC News. 17 May 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2010. Images of Beauty, Rip, Jet, Rex and Irma

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