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Egg Box Messages

By Lucy Stevens 2011

Lucy Stevens

Dimensions
30 cm x 30 cm (each egg box)

Pigeons were used to deliver messages during WWI and WWII, when the usual methods of communication were disrupted or unavailable. Cher Ami (Dear Friend) is a famous war pigeon, who delivered a message that saved the Lost Battalion (194 people), in WWI. The two pigeons that tried to send messages before her failed to do so (they were shot down). This is a tribute to Cher Ami and the two nameless pigeons. First message sent by unknown pigeon number 1: ‘Many wounded we cannot evacuate.’ Second message sent by unknown pigeon number 2: ‘Men are suffering can support be sent?’ Third message sent by Cher Ami that saved the Lost Battalion: ‘We are along the road parallel to 276.4 our artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heaven’s sake stop it!’

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