Tuesday 26 March 2024

Cher Ami

 

Cher Ami

Cher Ami on display at the Smithsonian Institution

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Last night we were watching Guy Ritchie’s 2024 television series, ’The Gentlemen’. It is by turns funny, dark, unbelievable, hysterical and actually very entertaining, with a cast of very good actors playing interesting characters. It was one of those characters, played by Ray Winstone, who mentioned Cher Ami (Dear Friend) and his role in WWI.

Cher Ami was a homing pigeon, one of 600 donated by the British Home Forces Pigeon Service to the U.S. Army Signal Corps.  Pigeons were used to carry messages when it was difficult to use other methods of communication, either because telephone lines had been cut or it was too dangerous to use human runners.

During the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in October 1918, a battalion of the 77th Division, under the command of Major Charles W. Whittlesey, became separated from other American troops and found themselves surrounded by the enemy for five days. The 594 troops became known as the Lost Battalion, as Allied Commanders could not locate their position. Seven messages were sent by pigeons, one with incorrect coordinates, resulting in the battalion being attacked by their own side, believing them to be a regiment of German soldiers. Some pigeons were shot and killed.

Eventually, the last pigeon, Cher Ami, was dispatched with a message attached to his leg. As he flew, he was shot but managed to continue his flight and deliver the message, which read, ‘We are along the road parallel to 276.4. Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heaven’s sake, stop it.’

Cher Ami was very badly wounded; his right leg, holding the message canister, was almost severed, he was blind in one eye and had a severe wound in his breast. Army medics treated him and he survived, though he lost his leg. He was taken to the USA with other surviving homing pigeons, but never fully recovered from his injuries, dying a year later.

Because of his determination to complete his mission, the bombardment was stopped and 194 survivors of the Lost Battalion were rescued and returned to American lines. The French government awarded him the Croix de Guerre for bravery on the battlefield. The Animals in War and Peace Medal of Bravery was bestowed on him in 2019, and in 1931 he was posthumously inducted into the Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame.

The story is not inconclusively verified, since many pigeons were used, and there are contradictory reports of events. What is known is that Cher Ami had already successfully flown twelve other missions, proving his worth and deservedly gaining his reputation as a symbol of courage under fire.

In gratitude, when Cher Ami died, the Signal Corps chose to have his body preserved and presented to the Smithsonian Institution in 1921.

Homing pigeons are remarkable birds and can fly hundreds of miles to their home lofts. They were employed in both World Wars and there were documented incidences of pigeons walking when they could no longer fly, so strong was the instinct to reach their home loft.

A few years ago, a Scottish racing pigeon landed in our garden and stayed for a few days. We feared the local wood pigeons might attack it, but it was perfectly at home among them. 

Cher Ami was hatched on April 21st 1918 in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, England. He died in New Jersey, USA, on June 13th 1919 – a short but valued and valuable life.

27 comments:

  1. What another great interesting post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. These little creatures deserve recognition - they do things no human could.

      Delete
  2. Wonderful story and well told. Amazing birds! It also makes me reflect on the world of 1918 and how distant that now seems.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. More than a hundred years ago and still it fascinates and horrifies us.

      Delete
  3. I remember hearing about the carrier pigeons in school, but hadn't heard anything specific like this about Cher Ami.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Such acts of bravery deserve to be remembered.

      Delete
  4. I have never heard of the Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame. But it is only fair that Cher Ami was posthumously inducted in 1931. If it was actually a different pigeon that arrived with the note, that other pigeon was shot, blinded and lost as leg, so he/she deserved to be awarded the honour too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I expect others were similarly honoured. 32 pigeons have received the Dickin (British) medal for bravery.

      Delete
  5. I like posts like this because I get to learn something I didn't know till now. I have heard of carrier pigeons and homing pigeons. But I hadn't heard about Cher Ami. Thanks for sharing these very interesting pieces of information.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Amazing story. I'm wondering now what is the average lifespan of a homing pigeon.
    Cheers, Gail.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've just looked it up, Gail. They live for 10 to 12 years, barring accidents with overhead cables. 90% reach home in a race.

      Delete
  7. Thank goodness he didn't end up in a pigeon pie, poor thing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've never really fancied pigeon pie. Dogs hate retrieving them because of their loose feathers. I expect it's a defence mechanism for pigeons, but I don't really know.

      Delete
  8. This post reminded me that 30 years ago, at our previous home out in the country side, we had a homing pigeon land in our yard. It stayed a few days and I would put out bird seed for it, but never really caught in the act of eating. Then one morn, I looked for it and it was gone. I can only hope it made it safely to it's destination.

    ReplyDelete
  9. It's the not knowing that eats away at you. We never did know if 'our' pigeon reached home safely.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Replies
    1. Such a little creature with such a huge task - amazing. x x x

      Delete
  11. Poor little Cher Ami! I'd never heard the story before!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There must be so many of these brave deeds that most people know nothing about.

      Delete
  12. That's a good way to have us looking back at your old posts wondering how you knew it was Scottish.
    On 11th Sept 2023 I wrote about our own visitor:
    "... a racing pigeon with a ringed leg watched from the rooftops as I sawed wood. It must have liked me because it flew down and allowed me to pick it up. How warm and fluffy they are, and so light. Your fingers disappear into their feathers. I put it in a box with some bird seed and water, and phoned the local pigeon club who sent someone round to collect it. Later, they phoned to say it was from Hull. I should have known from its accent."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. How lovely! I have never held a bird and was rather worried about trying, but luckily didn't have to.
      Of course you should have recognised the pigeon's accent;-)

      Delete
  13. Great post again, so interesting, thank you.
    Eddie enjoyed it too as I read it out to him :)

    All the best Jan

    PS Ray Winstone is a good actor.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad you enjoyed it - and Eddie, too.
      I do like Ray Winstone.

      Delete
  14. Thats a fascinating story about the pigeon Janice - just amazing birds.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Julie. They are incredible, aren't they?

      Delete
  15. What a wonderfully heartwarming story. They were remarkable birds! And that one especially!

    ReplyDelete



Thank you for visiting. I love to read your comments and really appreciate you taking the time to respond to posts.

I will always try to repay your visit whenever possible.