![]() ![]() Man's best friend also filled the simple but essential need for comfort and companionship during times of great distress. This sense of smell, combined with dogs' excellent hearing, allowed them to serve as effective guards and scouts, particularly when it came to detecting nearby enemies. Dogs could easily and much more subtly navigate trenches and battlefields than soldiers could, thus making them ideal ground messengers.ĭogs also served in several other capacities-for example, their keen sense of smell made them perfectly suited to finding wounded soldiers on the battlefield and in the trenches. Like homing pigeons, Allied and Central Powers used dogs as messengers during World War I. Unfortunately, Cher Ami died on June 13, 1919, from the wounds he sustained in the heroic delivery of his last message. The palm signifies the great importance of Cher Ami’s role in the battle. ![]() Army redirected its artillery fire and found and relieved the soldiers, bringing them back behind American lines.Ĭher Ami, the savior of the "Lost Battalion"įor his bravery and outstanding service, the French government awarded Cher Ami with the Croix de Guerre with palm. ![]() FOR HEAVENS SAKE STOP IT." After receiving the message, the U.S. OUR ARTILLERY IS DROPPING A BARRAGE DIRECTLY ON US. The message from the 77th Infantry Division read: "WE ARE ALONG THE ROAD PARALELL 276.4. Army's 77th Infantry Division, who were trapped behind enemy lines and accidentally being shelled by American troops. The message that he delivered was from the "Lost Battalion" of the U.S. Despite being gravely injured by enemy fire, he was able to carry on and save the lives of almost 200 men. He delivered 12 messages, and in delivering the last one on October 4, 1918, he was shot through the breast and leg. Army Signal Corps in France with the American sector in Verdun. In fact, they were so important to communication during the war that the British Defence of the Realm Act made it a crime to kill, wound, otherwise molest, or not take adequate care of pigeons.Ĭher Ami, one of two WWI pigeons in our collection, served in the U.S. Official Pictures of the World War Showing America's Participation Selected from the Official Files of the War Department (Washington, D.C.: Pictorial Bureau, 1920), 119.īoth the Allied and the Central Powers used tens of thousands of homing pigeons to send messages between military detachments. ![]() Bottom: "Liberating a pigeon." William E. During the last year of the war, he delivered 196 messages from the sea. Some of the lofts remained at army/division headquarters, while others were mobile, with soldiers carrying the lofts and pigeons on their backs as they moved throughout Europe.Ībove: Peerless Pilot, a feathered hero of the war, worked at the U.S. Their homing instincts also made pigeons extremely reliable and capable messengers-they could easily find their way back to their loft. Pigeons played a crucial role in communication during World War I because of their speed and ability to fly at great heights. To honor our animal veterans, this post highlights five animals that made significant contributions to the Great War. World War I, which ended 96 years ago on November 11, was no exception. Whether providing comfort, inspiration, or indispensable service, animals have played a crucial role in militaries and armed conflicts for centuries. However, the service of animals during times of military conflict often goes unmentioned. Veterans Day is a time to commemorate the brave men and women who are serving or have served in the armed forces. ![]()
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