Awarded Dickin facts

While investigating facts about Dickin Medals Awarded and , I found out little known, but curios details like:

A pigeon called Gustav carried first word of the Normandy invasion back to the British mainland during WW2, due to the fleet undergoing radio silence at that time. He flew 150 miles in 5h16m and was awarded the Dickin Medal for bravery. He died after the war by being accidentally stepped on

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Simon the cat, a feline aboard Royal Navy Ship "The Amethyst" was awarded The Dickin Medal for gallantry under fire. The gallantry? He protected the ship's food supplies from an infestation of rats.

In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across. Here are 11 of the best facts about Awarded Dickin I managed to collect.

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1. The only non-military dog to be awarded the Dickin Medal for bravery, was a collie named Sheila. In 1944 she tracked down 4 injured US airmen on a mountain during a blizzard, after their B-17 crashed. She led locals to their location, who evacuated them before the bombs detonated shorty after.

2. Dickin Medal is awarded to animals serving in military conflict. 32 pigeons, 18 dogs, three horses, and one cat received the medal so far.

3. All Alone, a war pigeon in WW2 who parachuted with a spy into France, before being dispatched back with important information. She then flew more than 400 miles across the English Channel back to England in less than 24 hours. After the war All Alone was awarded the Dickin Medal for gallantry

4. In February 1945, Rob the dog was awarded the Dickin Medal. He was alleged to have made over 20 parachute descents, serving with the SAS. In 2006, it was revealed to be a hoax perpetrated by members of his regiment in order to prevent Rob leaving after his original owners requested his return.

5. The Dickin Medal, a medal awarded to animals of the United Kingdom for gallantry action in war. It has been awarded 32 pigeons, 18 dogs, three horses, and one cat.

6. The Dickin Medal, sometimes referred to as "the animals' Victoria Cross", has only been awarded to one cat in its history. His name was Able Seacat Simon and he saved the HMS Amethyst from a rat infestation.

7. The PDSA Dickin Medal was awarded 54 times between 1943 and 1949 – to 32 pigeons, 18 dogs, three horses, and one cat who of which was awarded for the disposal of many rats despite injury on the HMS Amethyst '​s ship.

8. During WWII, three war messenger pigeons were awarded the very first Dickin Medal for bravery. From 1943-1949 this medal was subsequently awarded to over 50 animals as recognition for their devotion to duty.

9. Great Britain has an official equivalent of the Victoria Cross (like the Congressional Medal of Honor) for animals. It's called the Dickin Medal and more have been awarded to pigeons than any other species.