Carrier Pigeons

Category

Library Item

Item no

32747

Title

Pigeons as Despatch Carriers: An Ancient Method Still Used

Description

From the Illustrated London News published December 1st, 1917, page 672. Canadian war records photographs. Full titles: Sending off the birds to the trenches: cyclists riding off with the pigeon-crates; Returning with a despatch from the trenches: a messenger pigeon about to alight; how the birds are housed: A mobile motor-lorry pigeon "loft" to which the pigeons "home" on being released in the trenches.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1917

Size

39.6 x 26.7 cm

Type

Press cutting; Reproduction

Location

Reference Library

Regardless of the modernisation of weaponry during the First World War, animals still played an important role in war related efforts. With forces embeded in trenches, telecommunication became an unreliable form of transmission between the front and rear lines. Carrier pigeons provided a solution to this problem and were employed to travel the short distance between front and rear strongholds carrying messages, mostly confirming both front and rear lines still held their position. The method was far from full proof, but was widely used regardless during WWI.

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You can search the entire 1914-19 archives of the Illustrated London News online.

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Related subjects

Animals > Birds > Birds

Animals > Birds > Pigeons

Events > Wars > World wars

People > Adults > Men

People > Military activities > Soldiers

People > Transportation > Cyclists

Places > Europe

Transport > Land > Bicycles

Transport > Land > Lorries