Mary of Exeter

{{Short description|Military carrier pigeon}} '''Mary of Exeter''' was a carrier pigeon who flew many military missions with the National Pigeon Service during World War II, transporting important messages across the English Channel back to her loft in Exeter, England. She was awarded the Dickin Medal in November 1945 for showing endurance on war service despite being injured on three occasions and emerging uninjured when her loft was bombed.

Mary was owned by Cecil "Charlie" Brewer, a bootmaker from Exeter.<ref name=Independent/> She served with the National Pigeon Service<ref>{{cite book | last = Walker | first = Robin | title = Sergeant Gander : A Canadian Hero | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=A2G9D7uuTnkC&q=%22mary+of+exeter%22&pg=PA92 | publisher = Natural Heritage Books | year = 2009 | isbn = 978-1-55488-463-6 | page = 92}}</ref> between 1940 and 1945<ref name=Imperial/> carrying top secret messages.<ref name=MoD>{{cite web |url= http://www.mod.uk/defenceinternet/defencenews/historyandhonour/animalheroestobehonouredatcemeteryrestoration.htm |archive-url= http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100408200823/http://www.mod.uk/defenceinternet/defencenews/historyandhonour/animalheroestobehonouredatcemeteryrestoration.htm |url-status= dead |archive-date= 8 April 2010 |title= Animal heroes to be honoured at cemetery restoration |date= 10 December 2007 |publisher= UK Ministry of Defence |accessdate=8 February 2011}}</ref> Mary made four trips from France to England.<ref name=Guardian>{{cite news |title= Pet heroes honoured as cemetery reopens |author= Maev Kennedy |url= https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2007/dec/14/art |newspaper= The Guardian |date= 14 December 2007 |accessdate=8 February 2011}}</ref>

She died in 1950<ref name=Independent>{{cite news |title= Remembered at last: animals who served during wartime |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/remembered-at-last-animals-who-served-during-wartime-534491.html |newspaper= The Independent |date= 25 November 2004 |accessdate=8 February 2011}}</ref> and is buried in Ilford Animal Cemetery.<ref name=Imperial>{{Cite web | url =http://archive.iwm.org.uk/upload/package/74/AnimalsWar/images/AAW_CAPTIONS.pdf | title =Animals at War captions | publisher =Imperial War Museum | accessdate =17 April 2013 | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20141216202240/http://archive.iwm.org.uk/upload/package/74/AnimalsWar/images/AAW_CAPTIONS.pdf | archive-date =16 December 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Fitting tribute to animal heroes |author= Sarah Bell |url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7143006.stm |publisher = BBC News |date=13 December 2007 |access-date=8 February 2011}}</ref>

==Attacks survived== thumb|Mary's grave at the Ilford Animal Cemetery Mary completed many missions, including three in which she was wounded by enemy attacks, requiring a total of 22 stitches. In addition, she survived a Luftwaffe bomber attack on her Exeter pigeon loft.<ref name=Independent/>

===Attacked by German war hawk=== On one occasion she was attacked by German-kept hawks stationed in Pas-de-Calais returning home with her neck and right breast ripped savagely open. She recovered sufficiently and was put back in service two months later.<ref name=Telegraph>{{cite news |title= They served and suffered for us |author= Eluned Price |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3626468/They-served-and-suffered-for-us.html |newspaper= The Telegraph |date= 1 November 2004 |accessdate=8 February 2011}}</ref>

===Shot=== On another occasion, Mary returned with the tip of one wing shot off and three pellets were removed from her body. She recovered, passed flight tests, and was returned to service despite the shortened wing.<ref name=Independent/>

===Hit by shrapnel=== During her final trip her neck muscles were damaged by shrapnel. Her owner made her a leather collar to hold her head up, and took her out of service.<ref name=Guardian/>

===Exeter pigeon loft bombed=== Mary's loft, located at Brewer's house, was damaged during the Luftwaffe's 1942 raids on Exeter, killing many of the pigeons housed there. Mary, however, survived.<ref>{{cite news |title= £50,000 lottery grant for war animal graves |url= http://www.metro.co.uk/news/32307-50-000-lottery-grant-for-war-animal-graves#ixzz1EEYXqg1l |newspaper= Metro |accessdate=17 February 2011}}</ref>

==Exeter Civic Society Blue Plaque== thumb|A Blue Plaque from Exeter Civic Society to commemorate the partnership of a heroic animal and its owner Cecil 'Charlie' Brewer. It is the first such plaque and marks a unique site and chapter in Exeter's Second World War history A blue plaque was unveiled at 6 West Street, Exeter, EX1 1BA, the site of Charlie Brewer's home and shoemaker's shop for 63 years. His pigeon loft was also at these premises. The unveiling took place on 20 January 2018, followed by a celebration and refreshments at the nearby Picturehouse Cinema. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.exetercivicsociety.org.uk/blue-plaques-news/|title = Blue Plaques News Archives}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/01/21/pigeon-becomes-first-animal-awarded-english-heritage-blue-plaque/|title = Hero homing pigeon called Mary awarded blue plaque|newspaper = The Telegraph|date = 21 January 2018}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/exeter-honoured-pigeon-blue-plaque-1095261|title = Why Exeter honoured a pigeon with a blue plaque today|date = 20 January 2018}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-42751053|title = Exeter war hero pigeon Mary to get blue plaque|work = BBC News|date = 20 January 2018}}</ref>

==See also== *List of ''Horrible Histories'' episodes, season 1, episode 2 * List of individual birds

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Individual domesticated pigeons Category:1950 animal deaths Category:Recipients of the Dickin Medal Category:Military animals of World War II