Excerpt from Moon Squadron, by Jerrard Tickell, pages 131-32
“Considerable use was made of homing pigeons by friend and enemy alike and, at one time, to be found in possession of one was a reasonably certain passport to a firing squad. The employment of these engaging and interesting little messengers had only been sanctioned by some sub-ministerial qualms.
Long before the First World War, Sir George Aston, then a junior Intelligence Officer, had had the temerity to suggest to some more senior friends in the War Office and in the Foreign Office that they, on his behalf, might put the carrier pigeon idea forward and call the attention of the Admiralty officially to the courier potentialities of our feathered friends. The file proceeded on its leisurely course via IN, PENDING, and OUT baskets and at least reach the desk of Grander Panjandrums. He clearly forgot-if indeed he ever knew-the part played by pigeons after the field of Waterloo when they bore home the news of Wellington’s victory, sent Britain’s credit soaring and swelled the fortunes of their employers, the House of Rothschild. He read the bulky filed with resistance and distaste. Who can say what small boy remembrances of his grandmother’s parrot calling “Nothing today, Milkman” came into his mind? With the air of one whose time has been wasted and who is recording a foregone conclusion he wrote: NO ACTION. THESE BIRDS MIGHT CARRY MISLEADING INFORMATION. Despite this initial rebuff, however, pigeons came to stay.
They were dropped by 138 Squadron in specially constructed crates to which were attached little parachutes. For the first time in their lives they floated between heaven and earth other than by their own volition and those who came home seemed none the worse for what must have been a great psychological shock. There were many who failed to return and it is sadly assumed that they had, alas, got no further than the inside of an oven. These were hungry times and so delicious an addition to the menu was irresistible.”
A couple of days ago, I listened to an interview with veteran Matt Mckinnon-Pattison. He’s got a boatload of stories and really enjoys telling them. To hear the interview, look up We Have Ways of Making You Talk, the podcast hosted by historian James Holland and comedian Al Murray.
Pigeon Messages from Behind Enemy Lines, 1941
(c) Crown copyright images reproduced by courtesy of The National Archives, Kew, UK
WO208/3560 #43, #44, #45, #46, #47, #48
We think of you everyday, beautiful dove.
You are not forgotten.
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