War Memorial To Birds

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 34, 2 April 1948, Page 6

War Memorial To Birds

One of the most original memorials was dedicated recently in the garden of All Hallows-by-the-Tow-er, London. A mountain ash tree set in stone has been erected there to commemorate the birds who died during the war. It has drinking troughs set in its boughs and a stone pool at its foot. Miss Nancy Price and her parrot “Boney,” who appeared with her in the play “Whiteaks,” were the chief inspirers of this tribute to the thousands of carrier pigeons who died on active service, to the canaries sacrificed in gas tests and to the homely sparrows killed during the blitz. This is not the only tribute. A stained-glass window has been designed for St. Catherine’s Church, Feltham, in memory of both animals and birds. War memorials to carrier pigeons were erected in France and Belgium after 1918. Carrier pigeons were “on the strength” of the R.A.F. and the Navy, and every Corps of Signals had its pigeon unit. “Paratroop” pigeons were used extensively to enable the Allies to keep in close collaboration with the underground armies of France. A carrier pigeon called “Beachcomber,” brought the first news of the landing of Allied Forces at Dieppe in 1942. Many of these courageous birds struggled home to their lofts with a vital message before dying of wounds.