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WINKIE DM 1 PDSA DM 1

“For delivering a message under exceptionally difficult conditions and so contributing to the rescue of an Air Crew while serving with the RAF in February, 1942.” Date of Award: 2 December 1943 WINKIE’S STORY Carrier pigeon, Winkie, received the first PDSA Dickin Medal from Maria Dickin on 2 December 1943 for the heroic role she played in saving the lives of a downed air crew.

The four-man crew’s Beaufort Bomber ditched in the sea more than 100 miles from base after coming under enemy fire during a mission over Norway. Unable to radio the plane’s position, they released Winkie and despite horrendous weather and being covered in oil, she made it home to raise the alarm.

Home for Winkie was more than 120 miles from the downed aircraft. Her owner, George Ross, discovered her and contacted RAF Leuchars in Fife to raise the alarm.

“DESPITE HORRENDOUS WEATHER AND BEING COVERED IN OIL SHE MADE IT HOME ...”

Although it had no accurate position for the downed crew, the RAF managed to calculate its position, using the time between the plane crashing and Winkie’s return, the wind direction and likely effect of the oil on her flight speed. They launched a rescue operation within 15 minutes of her return home.

Following the successful rescue, the crew held a celebration dinner in honour of Winkie’s achievement and she reportedly ‘basked in her cage’ as she was toasted by the officers. Winkie received her PDSA Dickin Medal a year later. The citation read: “For delivering a message under exceptionally difficult conditions and so contributing to the rescue of an aircrew while serving with the RAF in February 1942.”

Following her death, her PDSA Dickin Medal was donated to Dundee Art Galleries and Museums by her owner.

© CH 2775 ©Imperial War Museum A 6819 DM THE PDSA DICKIN MEDAL The close relationship between humans and animals is rarely more profound than in times of conflict. Throughout history, animals have stood alongside humans in action and shown incredible bravery and devotion to duty when confronted with the horrors of war.

Our founder, Maria Dickin, CBE, introduced the PDSA Dickin Medal on 2 December 1943, at the height of World War II.

A tireless campaigner for animal welfare, Maria Dickin was determined to raise the status of animals in society and improve their care. The Medal was instituted to recognise outstanding acts of gallantry and devotion to duty displayed by animals serving with the Armed Forces or Civil Defence units in any theatre of war, throughout the world.

Regarded worldwide as the animals’ , the PDSA Dickin Medal is as inspirational and relevant today as it was 75 years ago. It is a fitting tribute to the gallant animals ‘who also served’ and whose remarkable contributions helped save countless lives.

The highest honour any animal can receive, the Medal stands as testament to the Diligent, Resolute, Fearless, and Relentless qualities shown by animals in action.

PADDY - DM 7 - DM 12 NPS.43.9451 MAP serving with Civil Defence Date of award: 1 September 1944 Date of award: 2 March 1945 “For the best recorded time with “For locating air-raid casualties PDSA a message from the Normandy in spite of thick smoke in a Operations, while serving with burning building.” the RAF in June 1944.”

KENLEY LASS - DM 13 DICKIN - DM 8 NURP.36.JH.190 PDSA Animal Rescue Squad Date of award: March 1945 serving with Civil Defence “For being the first pigeon to Date of award: 12 January 1945 be used with success for secret “For being the pioneer in locating communications from an agent in MEDAL buried air-raid victims while serving enemy-occupied while serving with a PDSA Animal Rescue Squad.” with the NPS in October 1940.”

ROLL OF JET - DM 9 - DM 14 MAP serving with Civil Defence NURP.38.EGU.242 Date of award: 12 January 1945 Date of award: March 1945 “For being responsible for the rescue “For successfully delivering messages of persons trapped under blitzed from agents in occupied France HONOUR buildings while serving with the on three occasions: twice under London Civil Defence Services.” exceptionally adverse conditions, while WINKIE - DM 1 - DM 4 serving with the NPS in 1942.” NEHU.40.NS.1 NPS.41.NS.4230 IRMA - DM 10 Date of award: 2 December 1943 Date of award: 6 March 1944 MAP serving with Civil Defence - DM 15 “For delivering a message under “For bringing the first news to this Date of award: 12 January 1945 NPS.42.NS.44802 exceptionally difficult conditions country of the landing at Dieppe, “For being responsible for the rescue Date of award: March 1945 and so contributing to the rescue under hazardous conditions in of persons trapped under blitzed “For successfully delivering messages of an aircrew while serving with September 1942, while serving buildings while serving with from agents in Holland on three the RAF in February 1942.” with the Canadian Army.” the London Civil Defences.” occasions. Missing on fourth mission, while serving with the RAF in 1944.” - DM 2 - DM 5 - DM 11 (also known as George) 6th Royal West Kent Regiment War Dog no. 471/322 - DM 16 No.1263 MEPS 43 Date of award: 24 March 1944 Special Air Service NURP.40.GVIS.453 Date of award: 2 December 1943 “For constant devotion to duty Date of award: 22 January 1945 Date of award: March 1945 “For delivering a message under with special mention of patrol work “Took part in landings during the “For being the first pigeon in this exceptionally difficult conditions and at Green Hill, North Africa, while North African Campaign with an war to deliver a message from so contributing to the rescue of an serving with the 6th Battalion Queen’s infantry unit and later served with a forced-landed aircraft on the aircrew, while serving with the RAF Own Royal West Kent Regiment.” a Special Air Unit in Italy as patrol Continent while serving with in the Mediterranean in June 1943.” and guard on small detachments the RAF in October 1940.” - DM 6 lying-up in enemy territory. His - DM 3 NPS.42.31066 presence with these parties saved - DM 17 SURP.41.L.30.89 Date of award: 1 September 1944 many of them from discovery and NURP.41.A.2164 Date of award: 2 December 1943 “For delivering the first message subsequent capture or destruction. Rob Date of award: March 1945 “For delivering a message under from the Normandy beaches from a made over 20 parachute descents.” “For delivering an SOS from a ditched exceptionally difficult conditions ship off the beachhead while serving aircrew close to the enemy coast 288 and so contributing to the rescue with the RAF on 6 June 1944.” miles distance in 7½ hours, under of an air crew while serving with unfavourable conditions, while serving the RAF in October 1943.” with the RAF in April 1942.” - DM 18 - DM 23 NPS.42.NS.2780 - DM 29 - DM 35 NPS.41.NS.2862 NPS.42.21610 Date of award: October 1945 NURP.39.SDS.39 Date of award: March 1945 Date of award: June 1945 “For bringing important messages Date of award: February 1946 “For delivering an important “For bringing 38 microphotographs three times from enemy-occupied “For delivering an important message from a Raiding Party across the North Sea in good time country viz: July 1942, August message in one day over a distance on the West Coast of France, although injured, while serving 1942 and April 1943, while of 400 miles, while serving with although injured, while serving with the RAF in Holland serving with the Special Service the NPS in August 1943.” with the RAF in June 1944.” in September 1944.” from the Continent.”

PRINCESS - DM 36 RIFLEMAN KHAN - DM 19 - DM 24 NPS.42.NS.7524 - DM 30 42.W.D.593 War Dog no. 147. 6th Battalion Date of award: 2 July 1945 Date of award: October 1945 Date of award: May 1946 Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) “For assisting in the rescue of “For bringing important messages “Sent on special mission to Crete, Date of award: 27 March 1945 four American airmen lost on the three times from enemy-occupied this pigeon returned to her loft (RAF “For rescuing L/Cpl. Muldoon Cheviots in a blizzard after an country, viz: July 1942, May 1943 Alexandria) having travelled about from drowning under heavy aircrash in December 1944.” and July 1943, while serving with the 500 miles mostly over sea, with shellfire at the assault of Walcheren, Special Service from the Continent.” most valuable information.One of November 1944, while serving the finest performances in the war with the 6th Cameronians (SR).” - DM 25 record of the Pigeon Service.” NU.41.HQ.4373 - DM 31 Date of award: August 1945 41.BA.2793 REX - DM 20 “For delivering a message from a Date of award: October 1945 - DM 37 MAP Civil Defence Rescue Dog force-landed bomber, while in a “For bringing important messages Date of award: May 1946 Date of award: April 1945 state of complete collapse and under three times from enemy-occupied “For magnificent courage and “For outstandingly good work in exceptionally bad weather conditions, country viz: May 1943, June endurance in Japanese prison camps, the location of casualties in burning while serving with the RAF in 1942.” 1943 and August 1943, while which helped to maintain morale buildings. Undaunted by smouldering serving with the Special Service among her fellow prisoners and also debris, thick smoke, intense heat and from the Continent.” for saving many lives through her jets of water from fire hoses, this dog - DM 26 intelligence and watchfulness.” displayed uncanny intelligence and NURP.39.NPS.144 outstanding determination in his Date of award: 1947 MARY OF EXETER - DM 32 efforts to follow up any scent which “For homing from a crashed NURP.40.WCE.249 - DM 38 led him to a trapped casualty.” aircraft over Cologne although Date of award: November 1945 NURP.37.CEN.335 seriously wounded, while serving “For outstanding endurance on Date of award: August 1946 with the RAF in 1943.” War Service in spite of wounds.” “For carrying out a special task WILLIAM OF ORANGE - DM 21 involving a flight of 480 miles from NPS.42.NS.15125 Northern Denmark while serving Date of award: May 1945 - DM 27 - DM 33 with the Special Section, Army “For delivering a message from Stray picked up by Civil Defence Date of award: November 1945 Pigeon Service in July 1942.” the Arnhem Airborne Operation Squad at Poplar, London E14 “For locating victims trapped in record time for any single Date of award: July 1945 under blitzed buildings while pigeon, while serving with the “For locating many air-raid serving with the MAP attached NURP.38.BPC.6 - DM 39 APS in September 1944.” victims during of 1940.” to London Civil Defence.” Date of award: August 1946 “For three outstanding flights from France while serving with the RUHR EXPRESS - DM 22 - DM 28 - DM 34 Special Section, Army Pigeon Service, NPS.43.29018 NPS.NS.36392 NURP.41.DHZ.56 11 July 1941, 9 September 1941, Date of award: May 1945 Date of award: October 1945 Date of award: February 1946 and 29 November 1941.” “For carrying an important “For bringing important messages “For delivering a valuable message message from the Ruhr Pocket three times from enemy-occupied from Holland to Lancashire under in excellent time, while serving country, viz: May 1943 (Amiens), difficult conditions, while serving with the RAF in April 1945.” February 1944 (Combined with NPS in July 1942.” Operations) and June 1944 (French Maquis), while serving with the Special Service from the Continent.” GI JOE - DM 40 JUDY - DM 44 UPSTART - DM 49 - DM 54 USA.43.SC.6390 Date of award: November 1946 Date of award: 11 April 1947 Date of award: Posthumously on Date of award: August 1946 “These saved the lives of two “While on patrol duty in Bethnal 1949 “This bird is credited with making the British officers in Israel by attacking Green a flying bomb exploded within “Served on HMS Amethyst during the most outstanding flight by a US Army an armed terrorist who was stealing 75 yards, showering both horse and Yangtse Incident, disposing of many Pigeon in World War II. Making the up on them unawares and thus rider with broken glass and debris. rats though wounded by shell blast. 20-mile flight from British 10th Army warning them of their danger. Punch Upstart was completely unperturbed Throughout the incident his behaviour HQ, in the same number of minutes, sustained four bullet wounds and and remained quietly on duty with was of the highest order, although the it brought a message which arrived Judy a long graze down her back.” his rider controlling the traffic, until blast was capable of making a hole just in time to save the lives of at the incident had been dealt with.” over a foot in diameter in a steel plate.” least one hundred Allied soldiers from being bombed by their own planes.” DUKE OF NORMANDY - DM 45 REGAL - DM 50 - DM 55 NURP.41.SBC.219 Date of award: 11 April 1947 Mascot of the Royal Rifles DD.43.T.139 - DM 41 Date of award: 8 January 1947 “Was twice in burning stables of Canada (Australian Army Signal Corps) “For being the first bird to arrive caused by explosive incendiaries at Date of award: Posthumously on Date of award: February 1947 with a message from Paratroops of Muswell Hill. Although receiving 27 October 2000 “During a heavy tropical storm 21st Army Group behind enemy minor injuries, being covered by “For saving the lives of Canadian this bird was released from Army lines on D Day, 6 June 1944, debris and close to the flames, this infantrymen during the Battle of Boat 1402 which had foundered while serving with APS.” horse showed no signs of panic.” Lye Mun on Hong Kong Island in on Wadou Beach in the Huon Gulf. December 1941. Without Gander’s Homing 40 miles to Madang it intervention many more lives would brought a message which enabled NURP.43.CC.1418 - DM 46 OLGA - DM 51 have been lost in the assault.” a rescue ship to be sent in time to Date of award: 8 January 1947 Date of award: 11 April 1947 salvage the craft and its valuable “For the fastest flight with “On duty when a flying bomb cargo of stores and ammunition.” message from 6th Airborne demolished four houses in Tooting - DM 56 Div. Normandy, 7 June 1944, and a plate-glass window crashed New York Police dog representing while serving with APS.” immediately in front of her. all the Search and Rescue dogs at DD.43.Q.879 - DM 42 Olga, after bolting for 100 yards, Ground Zero and the Pentagon. (Australian Army Signal Corps) returned to the scene of the accident Date of award: 5 March 2002 Date of award: February 1947 - DM 47 and remained on duty with her “For tireless courage and unstinting “During an attack by Japanese on Date of award: 29 March 1947 rider controlling the traffic and devotion to duty during the search a US Marine patrol on Manus “This dog was engaged in cleaning assisting rescue organisations.” and rescue operation at Ground Island, pigeons were released to the verges of the canal bank at Zero and the Pentagon following the warn headquarters of an impending Nederveert, Holland. He found all terrorist attacks on New York and enemy counter-attack. Two were shot the mines but during the operation - DM 52 Washington on 11 September 2001.” down but DD.43 despite heavy fire one exploded. Ricky was wounded Date of award: 28 January 1949 directed at it reached HQ with the in the head but remained calm and “Owned by a Czech airman, this dog result that enemy concentrations were kept working. Had he become excited served with him in the French Air ROSELLE - DM 57 bombed and the patrol extricated.” he would have been a danger to the Force and RAF from 1940 to 1945, rest of the section working nearby.” both in North Africa and England. Date of award: 5 March 2002 Returning to Czechoslovakia after “For remaining loyally at the side of his PUNCH - DM 43 the war, he substantially helped his owner, Michael Hingson, during their Date of award: November 1946 BRIAN - DM 48 master’s escape across the frontier escape from the World Trade Center “These dogs saved the lives of two Date of award: 29 March 1947 when, after the death of Jan Masaryk, in New York on 11 September 2001.” British officers in Israel by attacking “This patrol dog was attached he had to flee from the Communists.” an armed terrorist who was stealing to a Parachute Battalion of the up on them unawares and thus 13th Batt. Airborne Division. SALTY - DM 58 warning them of their danger. Punch He landed in Normandy with - DM 53 Guide dog sustained four bullet wounds and them and, having done the Date of award: 1 July 1949 Date of award: 5 March 2002 Judy a long graze down her back.” requisite number of jumps, became “For loyalty, courage and devotion “For remaining loyally at the side of a fully qualified Paratrooper.” to duty under hazardous conditions his owner, Omar Rivera, during their of war from 1941 to 1945, while escape from the World Trade Center serving with the 1st King’s Rifle in New York on 11 September 2001.” Corps in North Africa and Italy.” - DM 59 - DM 64 - DM 69 ABBREVIATIONS Royal Army Veterinary Corps dog Royal Army Veterinary Royal Army Veterinary Corps Date of award: Posthumously on Corps Arms and Explosives Date of award: 17 November 2017 APS 14 January 2003 Search dog. “For tireless bravery and Allied Pigeon Service “For outstanding gallantry in April Date of award: Posthumously on devotion to duty during an NEHU 1998 while assigned to the Royal 25 October 2012 operation in with North of England Canadian Regiment in Drvar during “For outstanding gallantry and the British Military in 2012.” Homing Union the conflict in Bosnia–Herzegovina.” devotion to duty while deployed NPS with 104 Military Working Dog (MWD) Squadron during conflict CHIPS - DM 70 NURP - DM 60 in Afghanistan in September US Army National Union of Racing Pigeons Royal Army Veterinary Corps dog 2010 – March 2011.” Date of award: Posthumously on Date of award: 9 December 2003 15 January 2018 “For outstanding gallantry in “For bravery and devotion to duty March 2003 while assigned - DM 65 during the US Army’s invasion to the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment Royal Army Veterinary Corps of Sicily on 10 July 1943.” in Safwan, Southern Iraq.” Search dog Date of award: Posthumously on 21 May 2014 KUGA - DM 71 - DM 61 “For outstanding gallantry and Date of award: Posthumously on RAF Police anti-terrorist devotion to duty while assigned 26 October 2018 tracker dog – RAF no. 3610 AD to 2nd Battalion, The Parachute “For unstinting bravery and life- Date of award: Posthumously on Regiment, in Afghanistan 2008.” saving devotion to his handler and his 6 February 2007 unit, while on patrol with Operation “For the outstanding gallantry Slipper in Afghanistan, 2011.” and devotion to duty of the RAF - DM 66 Police anti-terrorist tracker dog French Police Dog and member team, comprising Bobbie, Jasper, of RAID (Research, Assistance, Lassie and Lucky, while attached to Intervention and Deterrence) HONORARY the Civil Police and several British Date of award: Posthumously on Army regiments including the 28 December 2015 WARRIOR Coldstream Guards, 2nd Battalion “For his courage and devotion, Canadian Cavalry Royal Scots Guards and the Gurkhas Paris 18 November 2015.” Date of award: Posthumously on during the Malaya Campaign.” 2 September 2014 “Warrior and General Jack Seely - DM 67 commanded three regiments of the - DM 62 Retired United States Marine Canadian Cavalry, leading the Royal Army Veterinary Corps Arms Corps Search and Rescue Dog charge at some of the bloodiest and and Explosives Search dog Date of award: 5 April 2016 most infamous battles of World War Date of award: 6 February 2007 “For tireless service to the military I. Warrior’s Honorary PDSA Dickin “For outstanding gallantry and communities of the United Medal was awarded on behalf of all devotion to duty while assigned to States of America and coalition animals that served in the Great War.” the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire partners from 2006 to 2012.” and Wiltshire Light Infantry during conflict in Afghanistan in 2005.” SGT. RECKLESS - DM 68 United States Marine Corps - DM 63 Date of award: Posthumously on Royal Army Veterinary Corps Arms 27 July 2016 and Explosives Search dog “For attention to duty, devotion Date of award: 24 February 2010 and loyalty to the United “For outstanding gallantry and States Marine Corps.” devotion to duty while assigned to the Royal Irish Regiment during conflict in Afghanistan in 2008.” “THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUMANS AND ANIMALS IS RARELY MORE PROFOUND THAN IN TIMES OF CONFLICT.”