William of Orange (pigeon)

Pigeon William of Orange

William of Orange was a male war pigeon of British military intelligence service MI14. He was awarded the 21st Dickin Medal for delivering a message from the Arnhem Airborne Operation. This message saved more than 2000 soldiers at the time of the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944. Its official name in military record is NPS.42.NS.15125. He received the Dickin Medal in May 1945.^[1]

Communications in that battle were a problem for the Allied units; German troops had surrounded the airborne forces and the few radio sets present malfunctioned. William of Orange was released by British soldiers at 10:30 on 19 September 1944 and arrived at his nest box in England at 14:55. He flew over 400 km (250 mi) and the message he carried was one of few to make their way back to the United Kingdom.

William of Orange was bred by Sir William Proctor Smith of Cheshire and trained by the Army Pigeon Service of the Royal Signals. Smith bought him out of service for £185 and ten years later reported that William was "the grandfather of many outstanding racing pigeons".^[2]

References

↑ "Record of Dickin Medal recipients". People's Dispensary for Sick Animals. 2008-01-09. Archived from the original on 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
↑ "How pigeon William of Orange won the animal VC". 2004-08-08. Archived from the original on 2009-07-07. Retrieved 2008-07-15.

Dickin Medal recipients

Cats	Simon

Dogs	Antis Appollo Beauty Bing (Brian) Bob Buster Crumstone Irma Diesel (pending) Gander Jet of Iada Judy Lucca 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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