• Source: Dickin Medal

The PDSA Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 in the United Kingdom by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in World War II. It is a bronze medallion, bearing the words "For Gallantry" and "We Also Serve" within a laurel wreath, carried on a ribbon of striped green, dark brown, and pale blue. It is awarded to animals that have displayed "conspicuous gallantry or devotion to duty while serving or associated with any branch of the Armed Forces or Civil Defence Units". The award is commonly referred to as "the animals' Victoria Cross".
Maria Dickin was the founder of the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), a British veterinary charity. She established the award for any animal displaying conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty whilst serving with British Empire armed forces or civil emergency services. The medal was awarded 54 times between 1943 and 1949 – to 32 pigeons, 18 dogs, 3 horses, and a ship's cat – to acknowledge actions of gallantry or devotion during the Second World War and subsequent conflicts.
The awarding of the medal was revived in 2000. In December 2007, 12 former recipients buried at the PDSA Animal Cemetery in Ilford, Essex, Greater London, were afforded full military honours at the conclusion of a National Lottery-aided project to restore the cemetery.
As of January 2023, the Dickin Medal has been awarded 74 times, plus one honorary award made in 2014 to all the animals who served in the First World War.




Recipients


The first recipients of the award, in December 1943, were three pigeons serving with the Royal Air Force who contributed to the recovery of aircrews from ditched aircraft. The most recent recipient is Bass, a Belgian Malinois who served with the US Marine Special Operation Command in Afghanistan.




See also



Animals
Swansea Jack (1930–1937) – twice decorated by the National Canine Defence League before the introduction of the Dickin Medal
List of individual dogs
Honouring animals
Animals in War Memorial – commemorating the countless animals that have served and died under British military command throughout history
PDSA Gold Medal – an equivalent of the Dickin Medal for civilian animals
Purple poppy – a symbol of remembrance in the United Kingdom for animals that served during wartime
Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery – an American award patterned after the Dickin Medal, first awarded in 2019
Animals in war
Dogs in warfare – the history and work done by duty dogs
Horses in warfare – the history and work done by duty horses
Animals assisting veterans
Bravehound – Scottish charity that supports former servicemen, women and their families, providing training and dogs to support veterans
Hounds for Heroes – British charity helping train and provide service dogs to wounded British Armed Forces and Emergency Services men and women




References


General

Specific




External links



"The PDSA Animal Awards Programme". PDSA. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
"World Wars I and II". American Racing Pigeon Union. Archived from the original on 23 March 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
"War of the Birds (2005)". Internet Movie Database. 11 November 2005. Archived from the original on 24 February 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2010. A documentary about pigeons involved in the Second World War, many of whom won the Dickin Medal
"In pictures: Heroic dogs". BBC News. 17 May 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2010. Images of Beauty, Rip, Jet, Rex and Irma

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Simon (kucing)
• NPS.42.NS.2780
• Dickin Medal
• List of individual birds
• Belgian Shepherd
• Gustav (pigeon)
• List of individual dogs
• Lists of awards
• Equine recipients of the Dickin Medal
• Ilford Animal Cemetery
• Gander (dog)
• Maria Dickin