Clarence (Sparrow)
Clarence (hatched July 1, 1940 ; † March 23, 1952 ) was a famous sparrow in Great Britain during World War II .
history
Clarence fell at the feet of its future owner, the widow Clare Kipps, in front of their bungalow in London on the evening of July 1, 1940 as a newly hatched chick. Kipps, a hobby ornithologist and member of the Air Raid Precaution , civil defense during the German air raids , raised the bird and always took it with her on her business trips. Clarence never lost its imprint on his foster mother. The two became known for the feats the sparrow performed in the bunkers of London. In addition to a few other tricks, the air raid shelter number was very popular: Clarence ran into a bunker that Mrs. Kipps formed with her hands when he shouted “Air raid alarm!” And stayed there until they shouted “All clear!” . His Hitler speeches were even more popular: The sparrow stood on a tin, raised his right wing, which had been slightly damaged by the youth accident, to give a Hitler salute and at first began to chirp softly . He then increased his volume and furiousness to violent nagging, then apparently lost his footing, let himself fall from the can and mimed a faint.
meaning
Clarence became a symbol of the Londoners plagued by Hitler's air strikes and their perseverance. He was celebrated in press reports and his picture was featured on postcards sold for the benefit of the British Red Cross .
literature
- Clare Kipps: Sold For a Farthing. Biography of a Common Sparrow . Foreword by Julian Huxley . Frederick Muller, London 1953
- German edition: Clarence the wonder sparrow . Translation by Elisabeth Schnack . Afterword by Adolf Portmann . Arche, Zurich 1956
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Constantine Fitzgibbon : London's Burning . Ballantine, New York 1970
- German edition: London is on fire . Moewig, Rastatt 1982, ISBN 3-8118-4321-4
Web links
- BR March 23, 2000: Calendar sheet March 23, 1952: The London wonder sparrow dies ( Memento from January 16, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
- Timmy: The Story of a Sparrow (1962)