Beach Comber

This article is about the famous wartime carrier pigeon. For the activity of searching the beach, see Beachcombing.

Beach Comber (designated as "Pigeon – NPS.41.NS.4230") was a Canadian war pigeon who received the Dickin Medal for bravery in service during the Second World War.

On 19 August 1942, Beach Comber arrived in Britain, despite hazardous conditions, from Dieppe, France carrying a message from the Canadian Army alerting commanders of their landing there, marking the start of the Dieppe raid. As a result, on 6 March 1944, the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals awarded Beach Comber the Dickin Medal.^[1]^[2] Beach Comber remains the only Canadian war pigeon ever to be awarded a Dickin Medal, and one of only three Canadian animals ever to be so honoured.^[3]

References

↑ "Animals at War captions" (PDF). Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
↑ "PDSA Dickin Medal pigeons". The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
↑ Lennox, Doug (24 August 2009). Now You Know Canada's Heroes. Dundurn. p. 173. Retrieved 6 July 2013.

External links

PDSA Dickin Medal

Dickin Medal recipients

Cats	Simon

Dogs	Antis Appollo Beauty Bing (Brian) Bob Buster Crumstone Irma Diesel (pending) Gander Jet of Iada Judy Lucky Peter Punch and Judy Rex Ricky Rifleman Khan Rip Rob Salty and Roselle Sadie Sam Sasha Sheila Theo Thorn Tich Treo

Horses	Olga Regal Upstart Warrior

Pigeons	All Alone Beach Comber Billy Broad Arrow Cologne Commando DD.43.Q.879 DD.43.T.139 Duke of Normandy Dutch Coast Flying Dutchman G.I. Joe Gustav Kenley Lass Maquis Mary of Exeter Mercury Navy Blue NPS.42.NS.2780 NPS.42.NS.7524 NURP.38.BPC.6 NURP.43.CC.1418 Paddy Princess Royal Blue Ruhr Express Scotch Lass Tommy Tyke White Vision William of Orange Winkie

War pigeons

Croix de guerre recipients of World War I	Cher Ami

Dickin Medal recipients of World War II	All Alone Beach Comber Broad Arrow Commando G.I. Joe Gustav Mary of Exeter Paddy Royal Blue Tyke White Vision William of Orange Winkie

Others	John Silver Leaping Lena (Cold War)

In fiction	The Pigeon That Took Rome Valiant Yankee Doodle Pigeon

Institutions	National Pigeon Service (UK) United States Army Pigeon Service

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