History
Pigeon may seem like an odd choice to some for a digital photo frame, but we chose it with pride. Named in honour of the original carrier pigeons, who were so gallant in their role, we understand the responsibility behind the safe keeping of precious messages, the messages that will tell a child’s life story.
The Dickin Medal Story
The Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 in the United Kingdom by Maria Dickin. It is a bronze medallion, awarded to animals that have displayed “conspicuous gallantry or devotion to duty while serving or associated with any branch of the Armed Forces or Civil Defence Units”.
The medal was awarded 54 times between 1943 and 1949 – to 32 pigeons, 18 dogs, three horses, and one cat – to acknowledge actions of gallantry or devotion during the Second World War, and subsequent conflicts.
Our namesakes
Winkie was the third of the first pigeons to be awarded the Dickin Medal.
During World War II, Winkie was aboard a British Bristol Beaufort when it crashed in the North Sea on 23 February 1942 as a result of being badly damaged by enemy fire winkiefollowing a mission to Norway.
Struggling in the freezing waters, the crew remembered one piece of vital equipment, a pigeon named Winkie. It was a long shot, but she was their only chance, as the crew did not have time to radio an accurate position before ditching.
