The Pigeon Sqaudron
Jane Furlong, historian and writer for the world renowned Imperial War Museum, has written a piece on the role of homing pigeons during both world wars.
Homing pigeons were frequently used to carry messages in WW1 and WW2 as they were a very reliable form of communication. The government Pigeon Service was set up to train and care for them. In WW2 the Pigeon Service was maintained by the Air Ministry.
Did one win a VC?
Just as service personnel could be awarded medals, animals involved in war were also honoured. In WW1 a pigeon called Cher Ami was awarded the Croix de Guerre for her heroic service in delivering 12 important messages. She was badly injured when delivering the last one but she delivered the message which saved the lives of 196 men who were trapped. A medal was specially made for animals in WW2 and is known as the Dickin Medal. It is the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross. 65 animals have been honoured, 32 of them were pigeons.
What was the most important message carried or distance that was travelled?
Messages they delivered included one by a pigeon called Dutch Coast. It was awarded the Dickin Medal for travelling 288 miles in 7½ hours under unfavourable conditions to deliver an SOS from a ditched Air Crew close to the enemy coast in April 1942.
Kenley Lass was the first pigeon to be used with success for secret communications from an Agent in enemy-occupied France while serving with the National Pigeon Service in October 1940.
