A couple on the Antiques Roadshow were left stunned after hearing the value of an old medal that had been awarded to a family member’s pet pigeon.
The bird, named Mary, played a huge role in the Second World War and belonged to one of the pair’s grandparents. The unusual item will feature in an episode set to air on Sunday, August 25, filmed at Pitzhanger Manor And Gallery in Ealing.
With evident excitement, antiques pro Mark Smith said: “So when you came to my table this morning, you opened the bag and told me what was inside and I said ‘No stop, we’re going to try and film this one’ because it is so fantastic”, before unpacking the historical significance of the medal, from the People’s Dispensary For Sick Animals (PDSA).
Delving into the backstory behind the winged hero, Smith asked about the courageous Mary. “Well originally she was a racing pigeon along with the other pigeons from grandad’s loft,” said one of the guests. “She was put into the pigeon service, airlifted and dropped behind enemy lines in France.”
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With a blend of awe and humour, Smith likened the pigeon’s daring escapades to that of an avian super-spy: “These pigeons were dropped into France for the French Resistance to send back messages to the UK about secret things they’d found out to stop the Germans. That, therefore, makes her the James Bond of the pigeon world.”
The guest took a closer look at the various bottles that would be strapped to the pigeons for message delivery, as well as the tiny first aid kits that often accompanied them. He explained how Mary was regularly sent to France to deliver messages. However, during her first trip in 1942, she was injured when the Germans unleashed hawks to kill the birds.
Luckily, her owner managed to give her “umpteen stitches” before sending her out again. The guest continued: “Another time she returned having been shot under her wing. More stitches, and off she went again.”
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“On her final mission, she was sent off and was 10 days overdue. They had no idea where she was until a farmer found her in his field and returned her to her owner… She was gravely injured, it was touch and go with her, but she survived.”
“The owner crafted a small leather collar to support her neck, and she survived. However, she was retired from war service after that and was awarded a medal.”
Smith interjected: “The Dickin Medal. It’s essentially the Victoria Cross for animals. It’s the highest honour an animal can receive for bravery. It reads ‘For gallantry, we also serve.’ Magnificent. This is one brave pigeon, isn’t it?”.
He added: “That really takes some doing, because the messages being delivered are genuinely life and death messages and they’ve only got one shot at this. And they placed all their trust in Mary the pigeon.”
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The couple were utterly gobsmacked when they found out just how much their item was actually worth on the show. They confessed they’d never even pondered its value, and when the expert nonchalantly dropped that it was worth a hefty £30,000, their jaws hit the floor.
Their eyes bulged as they exchanged glances of total shock. “Oh my goodness!”, they gasped. One of them, absolutely flabbergasted, declared: “She’s worth every penny”, getting a nod from Smith who concurred with a hearty: “I totally agree.”
“I think this has been one of the best things I’ve ever filmed, because that little pigeon, so brave, thank you so much.”
Antiques Roadshow continues on Sunday, August 25, at 8pm on BBC One.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
