Winged messenger honoured with ‘VC’ for bravery

Little is known about the bird that carried key information from enemy occupied-territory during the Second World War.
Buster with handler Sergeant Danny MorganBuster with handler Sergeant Danny Morgan
Buster with handler Sergeant Danny Morgan

Referred to simply as Pigeon NPS.42.NS.7524, it was among the thousands used as message carriers throughout the conflict.

But this particular winged messenger, which was bred in Barnsley, stood out and his service was deemed worthy of the animals’ equivalent of the Victoria Cross.

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The pigeon is among an elite cast of 64 gallant animals who have to date been awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal.

Bearing the inscription, “We Also Serve,” the gong, which last month marked its 70th anniversary, is the highest award an animal can receive in recognition of dedication and devotion to duty in the field of conflict and has been awarded to 32 pigeons, 28 dogs, three horses and one cat.

Pigeon NPS.42.NS.7524 was given the award in October 1945 “For bringing important messages three times from enemy-occupied country, viz: July 1942, May 1943 and July 1943, while serving with the Special Service from the continent.”

Other recipients include Appollo, a German Shepherd with the New York police, who received the award in March 2002 on behalf of all the search and rescue dogs at Ground Zero and the Pentagon following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

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Arms and explosives search dog Buster was awarded the medal in 2003 after locating an arsenal of weapons and explosives in Iraq.

Jan McLoughlin, PDSA director general, said: “PDSA’s founder, Maria Dickin, instituted the ... medal to recognise the vital role animals were playing during World War Two.

“Seventy years later, the medal continues to honour animals in war, and although the nature of conflict has changed, the courage and devotion shown by animals remains the same. Each remarkable story demonstrates just how much animals help their human friends.”

The most recent award was made to Springer Spaniel Theo, awarded posthumously in October 2012, who made a record 14 confirmed finds of weapons, improvised explosive devices and bomb-making equipment while working with the army in Afghanistan.

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Theo died of a seizure in March 2011, hours after his handler Lance Corporal Liam Tasker was killed by enemy fire.

Jane Duffy, Lance Corporal Tasker’s mother, said: “The work of these animals is so important. Liam thought the world of Theo and, shortly before he died, Liam wrote and said that he wanted Theo to be put forward for the medal.

“You see, to the men and women whose lives are at risk day in, day out, these animals are trusted comrades that can mean the difference between life and death. At the time of his death Theo had the highest number of operational finds ever recorded in Afghanistan, which made a massive difference to the work and lives of the soldiers whom he served alongside.”

The first PDSA Dickin Medals were awarded in December 1943 by Ms Dickin for the life-saving actions of three humble pigeons; White Vision, Winkie and Tyke.

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Until now, half of the medal’s recipients have been winged messengers, relaying vital messages from the front line.

These include pigeons like Paddy (September 1944), one of the first birds to reach England with a coded message from the war-torn beaches of Normandy on D-Day. He not only delivered valuable news of the Allied position, but despite poor weather conditions and the threat of German falcons deployed to tear the fragile messengers out of the sky, he did so in record time, covering 230 miles in four hours 50 minutes.

Another pigeon, named GI Joe (August 1946) saved the lives of hundreds of Allied troops in the Italian town of Colvi Vecci. In October 1943, Allied forces were trying to advance on the German-held town. In an effort to weaken the German position, the infantry ordered an aerial bombardment. On October 18, the German resistance fell and Allied soldiers took up position in the town 30 minutes before the aerial assault was due to begin.

GI Joe was released with news and flew 20 miles in 20 minutes to deliver the message cancelling the operation just as the bombers were taxiing onto the runways.

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