Middle East Pigeon Service Film, 1942

Feathered Messengers

Various shots at a desert base of the Middle East Pigeon Service, where we see baskets of pigeons being loaded onto a land rover. The baskets are unloaded at a remote patrol outpost.

The outpost has recently received information from a patrol that needs to be relayed back to headquarters. A message in code is attached to the leg of one of the pigeons and he sets off on his journey.

Issued by British Pathe Newsreels on December 31, 1942.

Licensed for website use by British Pathe Newsreels.

Pigeons in World War II by Major W.H. Osman Photos and Letters

Photos and letters courtesy of The Racing Pigeon Co Ltd. www.racingpigeon.co.uk.

D-Day Pigeons, 1944

British Pathe released this newsreel on November 27, 1944. 

M/S of Mrs. A. V. Alexander, wife of the First Lord of the Admiralty with Wing Commander Rayner. C/U of two carrier pigeons, Gustav and Paddy, who flew on D-Day and are to receive the Dickin medal for Gallantry from the P.D.S.A. (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals). The Wing Commander explains what each pigeon did and Mrs. Alexander ties the medals around their necks and kisses them. C/U of the pigeons with their medals.

Licensed for website use from British Pathe.

Pigeons in Italy: 21 HQ Section Carrier Pigeon Reports Sept-Dec 1944

(c) Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, UK

Catalog numbers:  WO170/2106  #002, #030, #031, #033, #040

2 way communication between lofts, November 1944

(c) Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, UK

Catalog numbers:  WO170/2106  #004, #035, #036, #037

 

Large number of pigeons needed to keep pace with advance of 8th Army, 1944

(c) Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, UK

Catalog numbers:  WO170/2106  #004, #023, #024,  #026, #027

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Large number of pigeons requested to be trained, July 1944

(c) Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, London, UK

Catalog numbers:  #004, #019, #020, #021, #022