6-605: 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. Dutch Coast was bred and owned by Mr J Flower of Radcliffe-on-Trent , and was a red cock of the Osman strain of racing pigeons. After being donated into military service, the bird was placed on
12-475: 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 ". Maria Dickin was the founder of the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA),
18-503: 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 , 3 horses , and a ship's cat – to acknowledge actions of gallantry or devotion during the Second World War and subsequent conflicts. The awarding of
24-576: A bomber so as to relay an S.O.S. message if the plane was shot down. It was given the military designation NURP.41. A.2164. In April 1942, the bomber on which it was on board was ditched in the water near the Dutch coast. The bird was the only one on-board and was retrieved by the crew who released it from the dinghy at 6:20am. It travelled some 288 miles in 7 and a half hours under poor conditions, back to RAF Syerston in Nottinghamshire. For this action, it
30-568: The medal was revived in 2000. In December 2007, 12 former recipients buried at the PDSA Animal Cemetery in Ilford , Essex, Greater London, were afforded full military honours at the conclusion of a National Lottery -aided project to restore the cemetery. As of January 2023 , the Dickin Medal has been awarded 74 times, plus one honorary award made in 2014 to all the animals who served in
36-608: Was awarded the Dickin Medal in 1945, described as the animal's Victoria Cross . This Columbiformes -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . 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
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