- Type of Memorial
- Board / Plaque / Tablet
- WMR Reference Number
- 69527
- Description
- Rectangular black marble tablet with a representation of the Pigeon in the top right-hand corner and the lettering in gold. In the top left-hand corner is engraved the Dickin Medal.
- Inscription
- DURING WORLD WAR II, PIGEONS WERE USED BY THE FORCES AS MESSAGE CARRIERS./ PADDY WAS ONE OF THIRTY PIGEONS DELIVERD BY RAF HURN TO OPERATIONAL UNITS/ OF THE FIRST US ARMY ON JUNE 8TH 1944. THEY WERE TO BE USED IN CONNECTION/ WITH A SECRET TASK, CODER NAMED "U2". PADDY WAS RELEASED IN NORMANDY AT/ AROUND 8.15AM ON JUNE 12TH, CARRYING CODED INFORMATION ON THE ALLIED ADVANCE. / HE RETURNED TO HIS LOFT IN HAMPSHIRE IN JUST 4 HOURS AND 50 MINUTES. THIS WAS THE/ FASTEST TIME RECORDED BY A MESSAGE-CARRYING PIGEON DURING THE NORMANDY LANDINGS./ FOR HIS SERVICES PADDY WAS AWARDED THE DICKIN MEDAL ON SEPTEMBER 1ST 1944./ HE HAD PREVIOUSLY SERVED AT RAF BALLYKELLY ON AIR-SEA RESCUE MISSIONS./ ANDREW HUGHES JP, OF CARNLOUGH WAS THE PROUD OWNER OF PADDY. HE HANDED OVER/ SEVERAL OF HIS PIGEONS TO BE TRAINED, ALONGS WITH OTHERS, FOR SERVICE WITH THE FORCES./ PADDY LIVED FOR ELEVEN YEARS, AND TO DATE IS THE ONLY IRISH RECIPIENT OF THE/ DICKIN MEDAL, WHICH IS THE ANIMAL EQUIVALENT OF THE VICTORIA CROSS./ LARNE & DISTRICT SOCIETY/ MMIX.