SWNS The Dickin Medal was awarded to a homing pigeon called Princess for her contribution to the war

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Princess was given the PDSA Dickin Medal - the animal equivalent to the Victoria Cross. The smokey blue homing pigeon flew vital info about the Nazis in Crete across the Mediterranean to military chiefs at RAF Aboukir, near Alexandria, Egypt, in 1943. Sadly, the carrier hen died before it could be awarded the medal so the accolade was presented to a fellow RAF pigeon at a glittering ceremony in May 1946. PDSA Dickin Medals were awarded to more than 60 creatures following the war, including 32 pigeons.

SWNS The medal is believed to be one of only 38 ever awarded to pigeons in war

Princess bravely flew messages across the Mediterranean Sea Russell Beard

The rare medal is expected to sell for £20,000 when it is auctioned at Holloway's in Banbury, Oxfordshire, next month. Auctioneer Russell Beard said: "The medal was awarded posthumously to Princess for carrying an important message from Crete to Alexandria while serving with the RAF in 1943. "The medal is one of only very few ever presented during World War Two. "The recipient was called Princess and she was a carrier pigeon.

SWNS The medal awarded to Princess

"Further investigation revealed that Princess bravely flew messages across the Mediterranean Sea from Crete to Alexandria giving details of German atrocities as they ransacked villages across the island. "The medal, effectively the VC for animals, is very rare and a collector's dream." Princess's contribution to the war was described by Holloway's as "one of the finest performances in the war record of the Pigeon Service". PDSA Animals in War have also listed her mission on their hall of fame as being one of the greatest achievements by a single bird. Her citation says: "Sent on special mission to Crete, this pigeon returned to her loft (RAF Alexandria) having travelled about 500 miles mostly over sea, with most valuable information.

SWNS It is going under the hammer on Tuesday, December 12 at Holloway’s auction rooms in Banbury

"One of the finest performances in the war record of the Pigeon Service." The medal was discovered at a recent open valuation day at Milletts Farm near Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Mr Beard added: "Tragically, Princess died before being presented with her medal after contracting a disease shortly after the war. "A stand-in was used in the medal ceremony."

Extraordinary unseen photos taken on the eve of World War 2 Tue, September 26, 2017 The pictures were taken by pre-war photographer Henryk Poddebski. The pictures are unique because they show the Polish cavalry, tank units, airforce and combat engineers on the eve of WW2 breaking out. They are historically important because they have never been seen by the public, before or after the war broke out Play slideshow Zbiory Muzeum II Wojny Swiatowej 1 of 14 Polish soldiers enjoying a meal at a military training ground