Army Carrier Pigeon Service Operates In Far North

Northern Advocate, 8 March 1943, Page 2

Army Carrier Pigeon Service Operates In Far North

Somewhere in the North, This Day. " 'Ware hawks, little brother,” someone murmured conventionally. The signals officer drew his arm back, then pointed it forward and upward. There was a fluttering of wings, a couple of swift circles to gain height and the army carrier pigeon service was on the job, winging southward at 40 miles per hour and more, with a message to base, written on tissue .paper, tucked up beneath its tail. The scene was a headquarters bivouac somewhere in the Far North during manoeuvres at present being held by a northern brigade. The occasion was the testing of “Div. Sigs.' ” winged messengers, which have so often saved the day when wireless and telegraph have failed. Two pigeons were being released. From Best Stock “Which is the squadron-leader?” asked an air force liaison officer, who made an interested spectator. The older of the two cock birds was indicated. “And is he navigator, too?" con*tinned the pilot-officer. The signals officer, who was holding one of the birds while an assistant slipped the lightweight message beneath an elastic band on its leg, nodded gravely. “They get up to about 500 feet and circle about until a little gland inside them goes slick,” he explained. “Then they know to steer S.E. by E., or whatever it is. There's really nothing to it!” “Where do you get the birds —off the Auckland Ferry Buildings?” was the next query from the air force. The entire signal section looked disdainfully at the inquirer, as well it might, for the army draws its feathered recruits from the best breeds produced by a homing pigeon club, which specialises in the work. The young birds are carefully trained, being taken out first for short trips and then further and further afield until finally experienced birds can make their way home from amazing distances. On Army Rations

They arc fed cn army rations ot partridge peas and wheat seed, when in the field, live in a specially constructed cage, carrie don the back of a signals truck. There are one or two tricks in operating the carrier service—for instance. a hen and a cock bird must never be sent off together for fear they forget there is a war on and decide to dally on the way—but. in the main, army carrier pigeons carry on a valuable, self-sacrificing job of work with little or no publicity. Without knowing why they also serve, and have done so valiantly on the fighting fronts of this war. Today the troops are camped in bivouacs along the seashore in the Mnngonui district, and are enjoying a day of rest before the last exercise, which takes place tomorrow.