Dutch Coast Explained
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.[1]
Military service
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 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.[2] A.2164. In April 1942, the bomber on which it was on board was ditched in the water near the Dutch coast.[3] The bird was the only one on-board and was retrieved by the crew who released it from the dinghy at 6:20am.[3] [4]
It travelled some 288 miles in 7 and a half hours under poor conditions, back to RAF Syerston in Nottinghamshire.[3] For this action, it was awarded the Dickin Medal in 1945,[4] described as the animal's Victoria Cross.[5]
See also
References
- Book: Long. David. The Animals' VC. 2012. Preface. London. 9781848093768. long2012. registration.
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Dickin medal pigeons . PDSA . 22 February 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100213211708/http://www.pdsa.org.uk/about-us/animal-bravery-awards/dickin-medal-pigeons . 13 February 2010 .
- Web site: Pigeons in War. The Royal Pigeon Racing Association. 13 September 2014.
- [#long2012|Long (2012)]
- News: Award to Radcliffe Pigeon. 13 September 2014. Nottingham Evening Post. 20819. British Newspaper Archive. 4. 14 April 1945. subscription .
- Web site: Lucky and Sadie awarded the 'animal VC' . http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20080108005444/http://www.mod.uk/defenceinternet/defencenews/historyandhonour/luckyandsadieawardedtheanimalvc.htm . dead . 8 January 2008 . Ministry of Defence . National Archives . 13 September 2014 . 26 January 2007 .
