Description of photo by the
Imperial War Museum
The British Army in the
Middle East, 1939-45
Sergeant
Sidney Patey tending a slightly injured carrier pigeon, held by Corporal J.
Bent of the Royal Air Force, at the Centre, 9 July 1943. Sergeant Patey was one
of the three survivors of seven veteran pigeon fanciers sent out of England to
establish the centre. He was a native of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
Corporal Bent was a native of Royton, Lancashire.
During the Second World War the use
of pigeons in warfare was by no means outdated and even in the age of
mechanised combat they could and did perform vital work, as sometimes they
could get a message through when all else failed. Only certain breeds of
pigeons are suitable as carriers and casualties occurred as with their human
masters. It was the job of the Middle East Pigeon Service, Breeding Centre to
maintain a supply of birds to replace casualties or wastage for reasons of
health etc. Only properly trained men could adequately care for the birds and
select pigeons which would breed well, so the authorities have made sure that
only men well versed in the habits of these birds were allowed to join the
centre. Though breeding was the main task of the Centre, initial training was
also given to the birds before despatch to operational lofts all over the
Middle East. In addition, the Centre evolved a technique of inoculation of the
pigeons as a protection against para-typhoid and other diseases to which the
birds are subject, especially when their resistance is lowered as a result of a
long and strenuous flight. Extremely valuable help was given by the South
African Pigeon Service in sending up drafts of pigeons, nearly 3000 of them,
when the Centre was in its infancy. Finally, the success of the Centre depended
almost entirely on the devotion to their charges which was shown by the small
band of pigeon fanciers, some of whose pictures are given. Photo by Sergeant Wolfe, Photographer, No. 1
Army Film & Photographic Unit. Imperial
War Museum © IWM
(E 25657)
(c) Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of The
National Archives, Kew, UK
Catalog numbers: AIR23/6546
#49, #50, #24, #25
