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The sculpture of Bing, commissioned by Loughborough in Bloom, in partnership with Charnwood Borough Council, idverde and Serco, has finally been officially unveiled in Queen’s Park ahead of the Remembrance Day Service on Sunday 9th November 2025.
The unveiling was attended by local veterans, Mayor of Charnwood, members of the Loughborough in Bloom Board and numerous community groups. Ex Para John Gibbard, Chair of Leicester Branch Parachute Regiment Association PRA) was honoured to unveil
this poignant tribute to Bing and laid the first cross from the PRA between the Bing’s paws before saluting.
Mayor of Charnwood, Cllr David Northage, said: ‘Bing’s story is truly remarkable, and it is great to be able to recognise him with this sculpture in Queen’s Park.
“Loughborough has a rich military history, and Bing is part of that, along with all the other animals that helped servicemen and women during the Second World War.
“I am pleased that Bing has been installed in front of the Carillon Tower ahead of Sunday’s Remembrance service in which we will pay tribute to those who have served in our armed forces and paid the ultimate price to protect our way of life.”
Pat Cook, Loughborough in Bloom chair, said: “It is really pleasing to see the sculpture of Bing installed in Queen’s Park.
“We are always looking for ways to pay tribute to our armed forces and this year we have dressed two trees in knitted poppies and have been able to unveil Bing. We wanted to recognise Bing for the amazing work he did during the Second World War and his fascinating story.”
The unique sculpture of Bing was designed and created by talented Loughborough metalwork artist, Duncan Thurlby.
When war broke out Bing, formally known as Brian, was given to the army when his owners, the Fetch family from Loughborough, could no longer feed him due to rationing.
Bing joined up with the Army War Dog Training School and was one of only three dogs to successfully complete the parachuting training course with the ‘scout and sniper unit’
During his service, he jumped into action no less than seven times.
On 6th June 1944, Bing was dropped behind enemy lines near the town of Ranville in Normandy. However, the jump did not go to plan, and the paratrooper dog became stuck in a tree. Under fire, fellow paratrooper Sergeant Ken Baily fought to free Bing, eventually cutting him loose.
Bing and Bailey spent the next few months fighting side by side as they made their way through France and towards Berlin. During the journey, Bing sustained minor injuries, but he continued to perform his duties as a sniffer and sentry dog with distinction.
Bing’s last jump was during the final airborne assault of the war, Operation Varsity, which involved thousands of aircraft and 16,000 Allied paratroopers. After pushing across the Rhine into the German heartlands and seeing an end to the war, Bing remained on duty
in occupied Germany. He was eventually returned to the Fetch family in Loughborough to whom he had originally belonged before the war.
For his excellent service, Bing was awarded the Dickin Medal, the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross, by Chief Air Marshall Sir Frederick Bowhill on 29 March 1947.
When he eventually died in 1955, Bing was buried alongside fellow PDSA Dickin Medal recipients at the PDSA Animal Cemetery in Ilford, Essex.
