A carrier pigeon that successfully collected top secret messages from France during World War Two is getting a blue plaque.
Mary was part of the National Pigeon Service and was seriously injured three times by enemy falcons and gunfire.
She would deliver messages to the pigeon loft of her owner Cecil "Charlie" Brewer, which was behind his boot-making workshop in Exeter, an ancient city on the River Exe in southwest England.
Mary was awarded the Dickin medal, the highest award for animal bravery, according to a BBC report.
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place in the United Kingdom and elsewhere to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker.
This is the first time Exeter Civic Society is honouring a partnership between an animal and its owner.
It will be sited at the former home of Brewer on West Street in the city.
Brewer trained homing pigeons and in 1940 placed his prized bird, Mary, at the disposal of the service.
Mary was dropped behind enemy lines and despite being wounded three times and once going missing for 10 days, she always completed her missions.
Upon her return, Brewer would then nurse her back to health and at the end of the war they both received medals.
Mary won the Dickin Medal for her gallantry and outstanding endurance and Brewer was decorated for his war services as Special Constable with responsibility for control of war pigeons in the area.
John Monks, Exeter Civic Society's blue plaque coordinator, said: "It's a remarkable story of dedication to duty worthy of a blue plaque but it is also a record of the roles humans have required animals to play in bad times."
Brewer raised money for charity by giving talks about Mary for many years before he died in 1985 aged 90.
The story of Charlie and Mary is also being turned into an animated film and is due to be completed next year.
