Description

1943 (Mar 6) O.H.M.S. printed envelope complete with contents on lightweight Per Pigeon Post A.B. 418 B. form & typed ” On this opening day of the “Wings for Victory” campaign I send you , and your committee, this winged messenger with greetings & good wishes for your effort. May Victory come to us on wings which you will help to provide” cancelled red London S.W.1 Official Paid date stamp & with both red framed & unframed Army Pigeon Service hand stamps ………… At the outbreak of World War 2 many of Britain’s pigeon fanciers gave their pigeons to the war effort to act as message carriers by the army, the RAF and the Civil Defence Services including the police, the fire service, Home Guard and even Bletchley Park. Birds of prey along the coasts of Britain were culled so that British pigeons who made a valuable contribution to the war effort would not be hindered by these predators.