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Near the northwest corner of Hyde Park in London is a small memorial to honor the animals that have served the British and their allies during “wars and campaigns throughout time.” Although the location is not at all peaceful (it is in between two busy thoroughfares), it is a well-designed monument and effectively commemorates those living things that “Had No Choice.” One of the stone slabs has three in-flight pigeons carved into its highest point.
Early in World War II, the British Army devised a clever plan to drop homing pigeons behind enemy lines in occupied Belgium with instructions to the locals to jot down some kind of intelligence about the local Nazi forces, and then release the pigeons. These birds would then fly home, their owners would notify the authorities, and someone would come to remove the message and subsequently deliver it to headquarters. In many instances, the entire cycle would only require a few days, thus resulting in very fresh data that could potentially aid in military strategic planning.
This brilliant scheme only had a few problems, namely, hawks, spies, and hungry locals who preferred food over espionage. The birds that managed to avoid those fates, however, performed some incredible feats of navigation through a war zone, across the English Channel, and then back to their roosts. In a few months, Operation Columba had recruited a handful of willing Belgians, who in turn were able to gather information from their friends, neighbors, and co-workers. These people readily risked their lives to help the British understand what was happening across the Channel.
Eventually, this book transformed into detailed accounts of these persons, after a few really interesting chapters about the birds, how they were transported, and the fanciers who were willing to help. A few key individuals who were instrumental in relaying detailed maps and information early in the Pigeon Service days ended up being hunted by the Nazis. Their stories were very interesting (and certainly important), but I was personally more curious about those directly involved with the pigeons, and their situations after the war was over.
Rated: None.
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