August 11, 2012 by sanxion

GENERAL INFORMATION

Throughout the history of war, animals have been used as military tools. As far back as 3BC, Hannibal used elephants to help him in his campaigns. Since then there has been continual used of animals such as horses, dogs, cats, chickens and pigeons in warfare. In World War One, horses were used to transport goods, cats were kept in trenches to hunt mince and pigeons carried messages and detected dangerous chemicals.

In modern warfare animals are still used. The United States still uses dolphins to search for mines to keep the shipping lanes free. Sea Lions are used to patrol for enemy divers.

For this particular study I have chosen the homing/carrier pigeon.

THE PIGEON:

The homing pigeon is a domestic pigeon derived from the Rock Pigeon (Columba livia domestica) bred to find its way home over extremely long distances. The wild rock pigeon has a homing ability, meaning that it will generally return to its own nest and its own mate. This made it relatively easy to breed from the birds that repeatedly found their way home over long distances. Flights as long as 1800 km have been recorded by birds in competitions. Their average flying speed is around 80 km/h but speeds of up to 177 km/h have been recorded over short distance.

Homing pigeons are also called messenger or carrier pigeons when they are used to carry messages.

a carrier pigeon with fitted message

August 11, 2012 by sanxion

MILITARY PIGEONS

The Persian King Cyrus used birds to send information and the Greeks used homing pigeons to send news of Olympic victories.

Pigeons served many purposes in both World Wars.They raced through the skies with airoplanes,were fitted with cameras to take pictures of enemy positions,but their most important role was to serve as messengers.The important messages were put in little canisters which was attached to their leg.

Over 1000 Pigeons were used in World War 1 with an incredible success rate of 95% getting to their destination with the message.

An illustration of a war pigeon

The pigeon’s ability to get home was vital for those who used them as messengers. A pigeon’s great strength was not only its extraordinary homing instinct but also the speed at which it flew. Shooting one down would have been all but impossible. The only natural way to counter them was to bring birds of prey to the front line and let one of nature’s great battles occur. A falcon could bring down a pigeon. Even though shooting down a pigeon was almost impossible the notice below indicates how important the survival of the war pigeons was to the war effort.

DEFENCE OF THE REALM
Regulation 21A
————————————

SHOOTING
HOMING PIGEONS

Killing, wounding or molesting homing pigeons is punishable un the Defence of the Realm Regulations by
Six Months Imprisonment or £100 Fine

The public are reminded that homing pigeons are doing valuable work for the government, and are requested to assist in the suppression of the shooting of these birds.

£5 Reward
will be paid by the National Homing Union for information leading to the conviction of any person SHOOTING HOMING PIGEONS the property of its members.

Information should be given to the Police, Military Post or to the Secretary of the Union, C C Plackett, 14, East Parade, Leeds

August 11, 2012 by sanxion

CHER AMI

One homing pigeon who became famous during World War 1 was Cher Ami.

awarded to Cher Ami for bravery

He was the pigeon for the 77^th Division and he was given to the U.S Army Signal Corps in France by Britain. The “Lost Battalion” as they became known found themselves behind enemy lines with no ammunition or food. 500 men were trapped receiving fire from the Germans and the allies who did not know they were there. By the second day only 200 men were still alive and they decided to send a message,” many wounded, we cannot evacuate.” The pigeon carrying this message was shot down. They then sent a second bird with the message, ” Men are suffering, can support be sent?” The second bird was also shot down. The men then only had 1 pigeon left, Cher Ami meaning “dear friend” .In a last attempt he was dispatched with a note in a canister on his left leg. The message said” we are along the road parallel to 276.1.Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. ‘For heaven s sake stop it.” As Cher Ami tried to fly back home, he was spotted by the Germans and they opened fire. His comrades of the Lost Battalion saw Cher Ami tragically shot down .Miraculously he rose into the air again and he managed to arrive back at his loft division Headquarters 25 miles away. His message saved the lives of the remaining 194 survivors. This would be Cher Ami’s last mission as he was badly injured during the mission. He was shot through the breast, blinded in one eye, covered in blood and his one leg was hanging on only by a tendon. The medics worked on him and managed to save his life. They even carved a small wooden leg for him as they could not save his damaged leg. He was then put on a boat to the U.S.

For his heroism France awarded him the Croix de Guerre with Oak Leak Cluster medal .He had delivered 12 important military messages in Verdun.

A map illustrating various flight paths of war pigeons

In America he became the mascot of the Department of Service. He died at Fort Monmouth, N.J. on 13 June 1919 from the wounds he received in battle. He was later inducted into the Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame in 1931.He also received a gold medal from the Organized Bodies of American Racing Pigeon Fanciers in recognition of his extraordinary service in World War 1.

Cher Ami is as well known as any World War 1 hero. He has been mounted by a taxidermist and donated to the Smithsonian Institution where he is proudly on display in the National Museum of American History’s “Prince of Freedom” exhibit.

Many other pigeons were awarded “The Dicken Medal” for military service.