Cher Ami

Questions for Reflection:

1. How did homing pigeons, such as Cher Ami, play a crucial role in communication during World War I, and what were some of their remarkable accomplishments?
2. In what ways did the use of homing pigeons challenge traditional methods of communication during the war, and how did they contribute to the overall success of military operations?
3. How did the Defence of the Realm Act impact the lives of individuals during World War I, particularly in terms of civil liberties and government control?
4. What were some of the key provisions and restrictions imposed by the Defence of the Realm Act, and how did they affect the daily lives of people on the home front?
5. Reflecting on the significance of homing pigeons and the Defence of the Realm Act, what can we learn about the ingenuity, adaptability, and sacrifices made during World War I?

Capt John Carney, Cher Ami's trainer, holds the WWI heroine

Cher Ami's taxidermied body is on display at the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. 

WWI-era British poster against the killing of war pigeons as a offense under the "Defence of Realm Act." The act was passed in Britain on August 8th, 1914, four days after Britain entered WWI giving the government far-reaching wartime powers to requisition resources for the war to regulate against various offenses.

Soldiers of the 77th Division in New York after WWI (1918)