Mary of Exeter

Mary of Exeter was a carrier pigeon who served with the National Pigeon Service during World War II. She was awarded the Dickin Medal in November 1945 for showing endurance on war service despite injury. She was owned by Charlie Brewer, a cobbler from Exeter.^[1] She served with the National Pigeon Service^[2] between 1940 and 1945^[3] carrying top secret messages.^[4] Mary made four trips from France to England.^[5] She was wounded on three occasions, requiring a total of 22 stitches.^[1] On one occasion she was attacked by German kept hawks stationed in Pas-de-Calais returning home with wounds to her neck and right breast. Her next trip took place two months later.^[6] This time she returned with part of one wing shot off. Three pellets were removed from her body.^[1] In 1942 her pigeon loft was bombed during Luftwaffe raids on Exeter, killing many of the pigeons housed there. Mary, however, survived.^[7] During her final trip her neck muscles were damaged by shrapnel. To enable her to hold her head up, her owner made her a leather collar.^[5] She died in 1950^[1] and is buried in Ilford Animal Cemetery.^[3][8]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "Remembered at last: animals who served during wartime". The Independent. 25 November 2004. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/remembered-at-last-animals-who-served-during-wartime-534491.html. Retrieved 8 February 2011. 
2. ^ Walker, Robin (2009). Sergeant Gander : A Canadian Hero. Natural Heritage Books. p. 92. ISBN 1554884632. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=A2G9D7uuTnkC&pg=PA92&dq=%22mary+of+exeter%22&hl=en&ei=9n5RTdH8N5CJhQeytfimCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=%22mary%20of%20exeter%22&f=false. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "Cavalry – case 1" (PDF). Imperial War Museum. http://london.iwm.org.uk/upload/package/74/AnimalsWar/images/AAW_CAPTIONS.pdf. Retrieved 8 February 2011. 
4. ^ "Animal heroes to be honoured at cemetery restoration". UK Ministry of Defence. 10 December 2007. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.mod.uk/defenceinternet/defencenews/historyandhonour/animalheroestobehonouredatcemeteryrestoration.htm. Retrieved 8 February 2011. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Maev Kennedy (14 December 2007). "Pet heroes honoured as cemetery reopens". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2007/dec/14/art. Retrieved 8 February 2011. 
6. ^ Eluned Price (1 November 2004). "They served and suffered for us". The Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3626468/They-served-and-suffered-for-us.html. Retrieved 8 February 2011. 
7. ^ "£50,000 lottery grant for war animal graves". Metro. http://www.metro.co.uk/news/32307-50-000-lottery-grant-for-war-animal-graves#ixzz1EEYXqg1l. Retrieved 17 February 2011. 
8. ^ Sarah Bell (13 December 2007). "Fitting tribute to animal heroes". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7143006.stm. Retrieved 8 February 2011.