Press Release September 2004

Pigeon commando flies into Spink

(Press Enquiries: Emily Johnston 020 7563 4009)

Rare PDSA Dickin Medal or Animal VC to be sold at Spink

Orders, Decorations & Campaign Medals
Thursday 4 November 2004 at 10am

Spink, the London coin and medal auctioneers, is delighted to announce the sale of a rare Dickin Medal, the highest award for animals and birds, often referred to as ‘the animal VC’, on Thursday 4 November. Awarded to Commando, a red chequer cock pigeon, for gallantry with the Resistance and Special Operations Executive in France during 1942, this superb medal is expected to fetch £5,000-7,000.

From the outbreak of the Second World War, pigeons played a hugely significant role in the war effort, providing an invaluable message and surveillance service which both saved lives and contributed to the effectiveness of military operations. 1942 was a particularly bleak time, with England constantly under threat from German bombardment by a variety of weapons. Contact with SOE agents across Europe was especially difficult due to unreliable equipment and the fact that the Germans rigorously hunted down wireless operators. Pigeons were treated with equal contempt, with marksmen and falconers stationed along the Channel coast to bring down the birds – it is estimated that less than one in eight was successful in making it home.

It was into this scenario that Pigeon Commando was dropped in 1942. Trained as a homing pigeon prior to the war by Mr Sid Moon of Hayward’s Heath in West Sussex, Commando performed above and beyond the call of duty on no less than three occasions. He was awarded the Dickin Medal for Gallantry,”for successfully delivering messages from agents in occupied France on three occasions under exceptional adverse conditions while serving with the National Pigeon Service (N.P.S.) in 1942”, while attached to the Air Ministry.

Commando’s name appears in the same Honours List as Royal Blue (the King’s pigeon from the Royal Lofts, Sandringham), also awarded the Dickin Medal as the first pigeon of the war to bring back a message from a force-landed crew. Both pigeons were presented with their awards by Rear Admiral R.M. Bellairs in London on 12 April 1945.

The Dickin Medal was established in 1943 by Maria Dickin, founder of the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) to recognise conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty of animals and birds associated with or under the control of any branch of the Armed Forces or Civil Defence Units. Since its inception, only 60 Dickin Medals have been awarded (54 during WWII), 32 to pigeons, 24 to dogs, 3 to horses and 1 to a cat.

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Note to Editors:
Prices for Animal VC's previously sold at auction:
Spink, 1993: Simon the Cat, £23,100
Spink, 1983: SOE Pigeon, £5,000

Public Enquiries: 020 7563 4000 – www.spink.com - info@spink.com
Images: Spink Press Office on 020 7563 4009