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The Pigeoncote cares for lost and injured pigeon, and is a non culling pigeon refuge, located in Olympia, WA USA. We have been in continuous service since 1993.

Animals in War Jilly Cooper

From ancient time's right up to today, all sorts of brave animals, including pigeons, have been drawn into the service of armed forces. Some are skilled specialists, such as homing pigeons, and mine sniffing dogs, while other has been our beasts of burden. They have all shown their incredible resilience. Jilly Cooper notes that this is not a pretty story, and how can it be. But yet her pages are filled with both sweet and comic stories of one who has true affection for all we have pressed into unthinkable service. This copy even brings us up to date informing us of the efforts dogs made in our behalf during the rescue work at the World Trade Center. Jilly tells their story.

The version printed in Englnad has a different cover, but is identical otherwise

Cher AmiMarion Cothren

Now Cher Ami is a little pigeon in a big museum. Now this little gray pigeon with black-and-gray checkered wings stands all by himself in a tall, glass case in the National Museum in Washington. Surrounded by huge guns and war tanks, he looks strangely out of place, very, very small, and a bit pathetic too. One leg is gone and in the middle of the rumpled feathers on his breast there is a tiny wound. Yet his bright eyes, which day after day gaze out through his glass home, make you understand that once he winged his way, ever so swiftly and gaily, over the hilltops and through the valleys, quite close to the blue sky and feathery clouds. But you also know that he did much more than that. Cher Ami is there in the Museum because he is one of America's heroes, and this is his story

Pigeon HeroesMarion Cothren
This nice hardback copy of Pigeon Heroes is very nice for its age. There are no markings of any kind. The pages have started to tan somewhat due to age, but no foxing rips or tears. A very nice copy of this difficult to find book The jacket however is poor.
	$90 Hardback, very good but poor jacket.

The Cold War PartolsDanielle Denega

Cold War Patrols rather than an academic review of the literature engages one to participate in the discovery. A full color paperback that is that uses color and photographs to tell the story to its fullest. It is a new publication being printed in 2008 and is in mint condition. With the exception that the price bar code has been marked through. An interesting introduction for those of all ages.

$10 mint paperback

Cher Ami

Harry Webb Farrington

Click to enlarge. Cher Ami while yet alive

There is another book with the title of Cher Ami that is not at all like Cothren's book and predates her book by that title by several years. Cher Ami must have been popular during the post war period. This is a book of poems that, of course, includes one of our favorite WWI pigeon Hero. In the authors own words "The majority of the poems in this collection have been published heretofore under the title of "Poems from France." The popularity of the carrier pigeon has led me to change the title and give it the new name of "Cher Ami."

This special and limited edition has been printed because both the fourth edition illustrated, and the "Selections" from it, have been exhausted. This collection contains a revision of some of the original poems, and the addition of several new ones.

It has been a source of deep gratification to know, after having addressed over a million and a half of the children of America in about four-fifths of the |: states, that many of these poems have found acceptance for their moral, spiritual, and patriotic values. Interesting to note, how little the "definition" of patriotism has changed so little over the ensuing years.

Airlift 1870John Fisher

Click to enlarge. Fisher balloon with pigeons

It is ironic that in the first war in which the commander-in-chief of one side used mass propaganda as a serious weapon, Paris the capital of the opposing country was completely cut off from communication with the outside world. But using an age old method of communications, the pigeon, married with the cutting edge technology developed there from the need, Paris found a way to communicate with the outside world. For almost four months from September 1870 to January 1871 during which Paris was besieged by the Prussian army, and Bismarck and his aides poured out misleading information to lower the morale of Frenchmen, a small band of men were able to use what had till then been a hobby or a means of entertainment in the service of their country.

Had it not been for the promptness of the balloonists of Paris to realize that they alone had the sure means to escape from the besieged city, and to put themselves at the disposal of the Government, the break in communication with the rest of France - and in particular with those responsible for the remaining war effort -would have been complete. Soon, however, balloonists were leaving almost daily, carrying over the very heads of the Prussian army not only passengers - some of them very important - and letters but also the racing pigeons which were to supply the vital link in the return direction.

The intriguing story of the balloon and pigeon post in the siege of Paris is graphically related here and gives a fascinating insight into an unusual aspect of nineteenth-century warfare.

Pigeon to PackhorseAlan Harfield

Click to enlarge. Pigeon to Packhorse cover

Click to enlarge. Harfield William of Orange

The story of the the use of animals in the British & Indian Armies in signals & communications. Information drawn from the archives of the Royal Signals Museum on the Telegraph Troop, camels & communications, messenger dogs, the pigeon service, mules, elephants & horses. Contains some line drawings from the 1937 Manual of Horsemastership, Equitation & Animal Transport, & some others from the Manual of Instruction for the use of homing pigeons in India & S E Asia. (Published: 1989) (Publisher: Picton Publishing Ltd.) (ISBN: 0948251425) (Pagination: viii + 114pp, 107 photos and line drawings etc, 3 maps and diagrams.

Silent Heroes: The Bravery & Devotion of Animals in WarEvelyn Le Chene

Click to enlarge. Silent Heroes Carrier Baskets

We learn about Winke and Cologne along with many other animals man has taken to war. These courageous animals are just some of the many commemorated in this warm and moving tribute to their outstanding bravery in action. Heedless of their own danger, they went beyond the bounds of training and duty to display selfless acts of devotion in wars that were not of their own making. Evelyn Le Chene has delved deeply into the often elusive source material and where possible has talked to eyewitnesses to reveal many previously unrecorded details about these silent heroes of human wars over 140 years. Through diligent research she has unraveled the mystery of Rob, the collie who served with the SAS in North Africa and Italy and was awarded the Dickin Medal for bravery, but whose deeds are recorded only in his citation; and she was given exclusive access to classified intelligence service files, enabling her to reveal for the first time the key role played by pigeons in communication between Allied agents and French resistance workers.

The book places each animal's heroic deeds in the context of the battle or campaign concerned, and includes maps and a wealth of often rare archive photographs, many of which are published for the first time.

$48 Mint hardback with mint jacket.1997 edition

Courageous CouriersJerome J. Pratt Lieutenant Colonel U.S.A. retired
	$120 Very good paperback 136pp. Would be excellent except for a couple of previous owner's signatures, and corners have been bumped a little.

Animal HeroesErnest Thompson Seton

Click to enlarge. Animal Heroes, The Pirates in Ambush

This first edition printed in 1905 where the pages were of the "uncut" variety so they are a bit rough on the side and bottom. The pigeon story is that of Arnaux. From the author's own words "Arnaux is so nearly historical that several who knew the bird have supplied additional items of information. The nest of the destroying Peregrines, with its owners and their young, is now to be seen in the American Museum of Natural History of New York. The Museum authorities inform me that Pigeon badges with the following numbers were found in the nest: 9970-8, 1696, u- 63, 77, J. F. 52, Ex. 705, 6-1894, C 20900. Perhaps some Pigeon-lover may learn from these lines the fate of one or other wonderful flier that has long been recorded " never returned."

Click to enlarge. Animal Heroes paperback reprint

This paperback reprint was made in 1987

Pigeon Hero!Shirley Raye Redmond and illustrated by Doris Ettlinger
		Pigeon Hero is the story of GI Joe the pigeon that saved a town. It is written for new readers, but of course interesting for us more proficient readers as well. It tells the tale of GI Joe flying quickly to home to inform that a small Italian town about the be bombed was full of friendly people and kids and yes, Joe got home to time to save the people. As you would expect for a young reader it is profusely illustrated and again it is not hard for all of us not to enjoy the pictures. A enjoyable short read.
		$12 New mint hardback

Heroic Pigeons

Arch Whitehouse

The sleek fighter planes of modern times are today's warriors with wings. While the electronic age has grounded the homing pigeon, the story of these undaunted couriers remains a part of our military history. Mission after mission these winged messengers have doggedly flown to their home base, sometimes responsible for the rescue of whole battalions.

Arch Whitehouse tells the story of the famous pigeon heroes-from GI Joe who saved the lives of 1,000 British troops at Colvi Vecchia to Cher Ami, famed World War I pigeon who rescued the Lost Battalion on October 4, 1918.

Decorated for their loyal and invaluable service, pigeons have received Purple Hearts and Croix de Guerre. As Arch Whitehouse weaves their flight history, the homing pigeons of yesterday become gallant birds, heroes in every meaning of the word.

Published 1965 Very good ex-libary hardback

$15

Signal Corps, U.S. Army Message Book M-210

From the first page of this original and mint message book for its age we find the following instructions.

1. Preparation of at least two carbon copies is required, the original and one carbon. Copy to be delivered to the message center and the other carbon copy to be retained in the book (or writer's file.
2. Print plainly. Print proper names (except signature and grade of writer) and code or cipher groups in CAPITALS.
3. Write the message in as few words as possible. If the writer desires punctuation marks transmitted they must be spelled out, otherwise they will not be sent.
4. Use only authorized abbreviations.
5. If a classification in speed 01 handling other than routine is desired, print in CAPITALS the desired classification in the space indicated (examples: PRIORITY or URGENT).
6. "No."-Enter the serial number given the message by the writer.
7. "Date."-enter the date in the following order: Day, month, year (example:
23 Feb42).
8. "To."-Enter the official designation of the person addressed (example: CO 1st Inf). Add his actual location only when necessary to insure delivery. Do not use the telephone directory designations as addresses.
9. "Official designation of sender."-Enter the official capacity in which the writer is serving (examples: "CO 1st Bn 1st Inf" or "Leader, Patrol No. 1").
10. "Time signed."-must always be filled in as: for the 24-hour time system, 0135 or for the old 12-hour time system, 1:35 AM and for the 24-hour time system, 1445 or for the old 12-hour time system, 2:45 PM.
11. In time of war or emergency, all messages to be transmitted by radio, or by other means when danger of hostile interception exists, are cryptographed unless authority to send in clear is given by the CO or his authorized representative. This authority must be indicated in lower left corner.
12. "Signature and grade of writer."-Enter the personal signature of the writer of the message or of the person who may be authorized to write the message for him.
13. There are in the back of this book tissue sheets for pigeon messages and tracing paper for sketches or tracings.

$19 Mint for its age. Complete, but the staples have rusted a bit.

The Homing Pigeon TM11-419 War Department Technical Manual January 1945

This manual was originally a restricted publication used by the armed forces Signal Corps in the care and training of homing pigeons. It is a mint reprint published by Glenn Barlow LT. Col. USAFR. Clearly it was written by folk who new pigeons well. It is in actuality a user manual that would benefit all. It has several chapter in 82 pages,, including General Description, Care, Loft Management, Training, Breeding, and Diseases. It is replete with photos and diagram to explain pertinent points.

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