Special Feathered Squadron: Undercover Carrier Pigeons
Remembering the animals who helped our men in war.
when you are walking in the square
please don’t let your children kick us there
my predecessors helped to win your war
kept Hitler’s army from your shore
So spare a thought for I am proud
please give us space when in a crowd
Don’t call us horrid names and things
we really are not rats on wings
Remember I wear a medal on my chest
for I am proud we did our best!
Remembrance day is just around the corner. please give some thought to the animals who helped along side our soldiers. They were the silent heroes and have only been given recognition for their bravery to duty since1943.
Sixty animals have been awarded The Dickin medal-the animal equivalent of the Victoria cross. The stories from ex-servicemen included a bear, pigeons,dogs,horses and one cat-all of which through the course of duty saved human life and provided vital companionship in times of terrible conflict.
The most unusual hero was Voytek- known as the soldier bear. Adopted by the polish army when he was a cub.He enjoyed a cigarette and beer and could carry more mortar rounds than any other soldier. He fought in the bloody battle of Monte Casino.The four-month battle, one of western Europe’s bloodiest, left quarter of a million soldiers dead.
Voytek survived and was bought to Scotland after the war by Polish troops and was stationed near the Berwickshire village of Hutton, before moving to Edinburgh Zoo, where he died in 1963.
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