War pigeons

[skysmum]

Our recent trip to France was a bit of a family history trip. Ive long wanted to fill a missing gap in our family line and find out where a distant relative who was killed in the Battle of the Somme during the first war was laid to rest. It was an emotional trip but one that ive wanted to do for a very long time.

During our time visiting museums i was fascinated to read about the huge roll Pigeons played in both wars with their message carrying and photography skills . They used to have tiny cameras fitted to their chest's to take aerial pictures of enemy lines etc. I knew they were used to some degree but not quite to this extent.

Many were awarded the animal version of the Victoria cross, which was the Dickin Medal for bravery, one bird actually survived 52 missions back and forward across the English channel even being fired at by the enemy.

This is a chap from the first war



And this chap, named The Duke of Normandy is from the second war, his story is amazing, i hope you can read it.

[ffiscool]

wow! I had seen programmes before, re the camera part but it is amazing and to think that so many hate pigeons or disregard them.

what amazing strength they must have had to have

so nice you tracked down your relative. Anything like that is very emotional. Do you watch Who Do You Think You Are. such interesting stuff the find out

[stevex]

It sounds fascinating, I think everyone knows that they were used to carry messages but I had no idea about their use in aerial photography.

I've often thought about going to the D-day beaches and museums, I'll get there one day!

[skysmum]

Ive always been very fond of Pigeons and have an even greater respect for them now. Our neighbour kept racing P's when i was a child, i have fond memories of him putting them into their baskets, driving them miles and then standing in the garden waiting for them to come home, they always did, how many other birds do you know that would do that

LOVE those programmes Fran, i could watch them all day

You should go stevex, we did the Normandy beaches too and stayed near Sword beach and visited Arromanches where the remains of the man made harbour are still to be seen, Pegasus Bridge is very interesting too

[Hezz]

I read a very interesting article not so very long ago about just this topic, Skysmum, and these two were mentioned by name. Very interesting stuff, and amazing how the managed to evade the Germans and still achieve what they did. I was particularly taken with the fact that quite a few had been given such honours, and rightly so.

I hope your trip achieved what you set out to do.

[clt80]

It's quite humbling to read how brave these little pigeons were.

[jellybean]

Like stevex I knew about the messages, but not the photography. Well done those pigeons.
I hope you found what you were looking for in France skysmum.

[samwiseg]

Wow amazing as the others have said pigeons taking pictures?! And what a heavy load! Not like your trackers or cameras of today,

Thanks for sharing that skysmum VERY interesting read

[skysmum]

Thanks Hezz and jellybean, i did

[Deleted]

I am amazed as to how these pigeons survived the noise let alone fly in it. The Duke of Normandy is a cylinder for days defies belief that he didn’t die of a heart attack and as for that kit on that bird, it looks heavier than the bird itself. Tough little things they are.