Margate, Kent: Pigeons at War

Available for over a year

One hundred thousand pigeons were recruited as messengers during World War One. They underwent trials off the Kent coast by AH Osman, a father of pigeon racing in the UK. His work was vital to communication in WW1 because he set up the British army pigeon messaging service. Sara Parker met his great grandson Rick, and leading Kent pigeon fancier, Allan Cecil. The birds often saved lives, flying through war torn areas and sometimes appalling weather to reach their destination. At times the messenger birds were so severely injured it was a miracle they made it back. Pigeons were used to take messages in all kinds of situations from crucial operational information on land, sea and air, to SOS calls. They were bred for their stamina and their homing abilities and many Kent pigeon fanciers sent their best birds to war. Location: Margate, Kent CT9 1DT Image: Mobile loft in double decker bus courtesy of Stewart Waldrop, Royal Pigeon Racing Association