Anger after plaque to WWII hero ‘Paddy the Pigeon’ destroyed in Co Antrim

A plaque installed at Carnlough in Co Antrim to honour a messenger pigeon which was used by the RAF during World War II has been “totally destroyed”.
Among those to condemn the incident was UUP leader Doug Beattie who described the reported act of vandalism as “utterly pointless and disgraceful”.

“Paddy the Pigeon” was raised as a carrier pigeon by Andrew Hughes of Carnlough village in Co Antrim.

During World War II, thousands of trained messenger pigeons were enrolled by the Royal Air Force (RAF) to help military service personnel by carrying secret coded messages between the Allies from the war front back home to Britain.

Paddy was awarded Dickin Medal on September 1, 1944, which is given for gallantry or devotion to duty while serving in military conflict and is often known as “the animal’s Victoria Cross.”

Sharing images of the broken plaque on social media, WartimeNI posted: “Pretty harbour. Petty sectarianism. Equal parts saddened and angered to see the commemorative plaque to Paddy the Pigeon totally destroyed overnight in Carnlough, Co. Antrim.

“Wednesday would be the 80th anniversary of his Dickin Medal-worthy exploits in Normandy.”

Other people commented to say it was “so disappointing”, adding that his friends had visited the area a number of weeks ago and thought it was “honourable and brilliant that the animals that helped us are remembered”.

In light of the incident, he suggested a “full model” should be made to recognise the “amazing birds that helped us”.

Paddy the Pigeon was trained at the air force’s Hurn Base, where the officers became impressed with his abilities during Air-Sea rescue operations.

Paddy was later used in service with the First U.S. Army during covert missions as part of the Normandy landings.

In an operation known as “U2”, Paddy was to carry coded information on the Allied advance in Normandy back to the British in Hampshire.

Not only did Paddy have to avoid anti-air fire, but German forces had also stationed specially trained hawks to take out carrier pigeons in the Calais region of France.

But Paddy managed to fly all the way back to the base in Hampshire from Normandy in four hours and 50 minutes, which became the fastest record by message-carrier pigeon during the Normandy landings.

Paddy the Pigeon eventually returned to his home in Carnlough with Andrew Hughes.

He lived until 1954, dying at the age of 11.

In 2019, a plaque was unveiled to honour his memory in Carnlough.

The PSNI said it is investigating after a memorial plaque was damaged in Carnlough overnight.

“The marble tile was torn from its mount at the Heritage Centre on Harbour Road and smashed,” a police officer said.

“Anyone who witnessed the damage being caused or who may have other information regarding this crime is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference 481 09/06/24.”