› added 9 months ago

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TIL a Canadian pigeon, Beach Comber, arrived in Britain from Dieppe, France carrying a message from the Army alerting commanders of their landing there, marking the start of the Dieppe Raid. It's the only Canadian war pigeon ever to be awarded a Dickin Medal, one of only three animals so honored.

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Ol9g TIL that the ancient Spartan warriors were encouraged to have homosexual relationships with one another, the theory is that (in battle) they would fight harder to protect someone they loved.
P1ejJ TIL in 1794, the French government decided to remove the lead roof tiles of Basilica of St. Denis and melt them down to make bullets.
BgKEx TIL that Rip, a stray dog adopted by an Air Raid Patrol in World War II, saved over 100 people despite having no training. He earned the Dickin Medal and inspired the training of search and rescue dogs.
E1ZP TIL North Dakota is not “legally” a state according to an error in their constitution. They’re are voting to fix it this November.
5V5nk TIL Ancient Greek used to ostracize potential tyrants with a vote, essentially forcing them to leave the city