The Dickin Medal was established in 1943 in the UK by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in war. It is a bronze medallion bearing the words "For Gallantry" and "We Also Serve" within a laurel wreath, carried on a ribbon of striped green, dark brown and pale blue. It is 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 award is commonly referred to as "the animals' Victoria Cross". The first recipients were three pigeons in December 1943, serving with the Royal Air Force, all of which contributed to the recovery of air crew from downed aircraft during the Second World War. The most recent animal to be honoured is Treo, a black Labrador, for his "heroic actions as an arms and explosives search dog in Afghanistan". As of August 2011, the Dickin Medal has been awarded 63 times. (Full list...)