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Bravery medal awarded to pigeon sold for £30k

PDSAS Dickin Medal A black-and-white photograph of two men holding Tommy the pigeon wearing a medal. One of the men has round glasses and is in uniform, the other is wearing a three-piece suit.PDSAS Dickin Medal
Tommy was given his medal in 1946

A medal awarded to a homing pigeon who helped the Dutch resistance during World War Two has been sold at auction for £30,000.

Tommy, from Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria, was blown off course and found himself in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands, from where he was later returned with a coded message.

The Dickin Medal, often known as the Victoria Cross for animals, was given to him in 1946 and has been bought by the Dock Museum in Barrow-in-Furness.

The grandson of Tommy's owner, who was at the auction, said he was "really happy" it would be going on public display.

Laidlaw Auctioneers & Valuers The Dickin Medal awarded to Tommy is shown in a red velvet box. It has a red, green and white ribbon and there is a piece of paper tucked behind it.Laidlaw Auctioneers & Valuers
The medal was bought by the Dock Museum for £30,000

Tommy was owned by William Brockbank from Dalton-in-Furness.

During a race in Dorset in 1942 he ended up being blown to the Netherlands where he was found by a Dutch postman.

He was passed to a resistance member who identified the bird as British from its leg ring.

In an attempt to notify British Intelligence about an arms factory near Amsterdam, Tommy was sent home carrying a message but was shot and wounded by German soldiers.

PDSAS Dickin Medal A black-and-white photograph of Tommy the pigeon.PDSAS Dickin Medal
After the war, Tommy was displayed at shows for a small fee

He survived the 400-mile (644km) flight back to England and the message resulted in the destruction of the arms site during an Allied air raid.

Tommy was awarded the Dickin Medal in 1946 at the Dutch embassy.

After the war, Mr Brockbank regularly exhibited Tommy at shows and the proceeds were used to purchase a playground.

Laidlaw Auctioneers & Valuers A black-and-white photo of a man dressed in a light-coloured suit holding a pigeon.Laidlaw Auctioneers & Valuers
Tommy is one of 75 animals to have been awarded the medal

The site is now the location of Dalton Leisure Centre and home to a plaque in Tommy's honour.

Isabelle Collins, from Laidlaw Auctioneers in Carlisle, said: "When we were doing the research for the medal it was really quite emotional to discover what he'd done.

"Only 75 animals have been awarded the Dickin Medal since it was created in 1943."

Richard and Hollie Higgin stand in the auction room holding up a black-and-white photo of their grandfather/great-grandfather. Richard has short grey hair and is wearing a blue coat. Hollie has long brown hair and is wearing a brown coat.
Richard and Hollie Higgin, who are descendants of Tommy's owner, attended the auction

Mr Brockbank's grandson Richard Higgin said he was "stunned" when the bidding reached £30,000.

His great-granddaughter Hollie Higgin said: "It's an amazing achievement that the bird did."

Mr Higgin added: "The price reflects that."

Charlotte Hawley, collections and exhibitions manager at the Dock Museum, said she was "absolutely thrilled" the organisation had been able to buy the medal - describing it as "a fantastic addition" to its collections.

"It is such an important story for the area, particularly for Dalton," she said.

"As soon as we were aware that it was coming up for auction, there was lots of behind-the-scenes activity to make sure we could try and keep it in the area.

"This purchase was made possible thanks to the public who make donations to the museum and Furness Maritime Trust. We are truly honoured to be the new home for Tommy's medal.''

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