All this pigeon talk reminds me that I was nearly led into a life of crime by pigeon-related activity.
When I was about 14 or 15, I had two friends who were both into keeping pigeons. One of my friends, let's call him Bob because that was his name, wanted to build a pigeon loft, as pigeon sheds are called. We lived in a port town where a lot of timber was imported from Europe, so we decided to pinch the wood from the local timber yard.
I can remember hiding under the tarpaulins, waiting for the night watchman to go back to his cabin, before we slipped out to half inch the bits of wood we needed. We didn't get caught.
After his loft was built, Bob bought some pigeons from a boy called Terry, who none of us liked at the time. When he let the pigeons out a few days later, they promptly flew back to Terry's. I know that's what they're supposed to do, but Bob felt a bit peeved and ripped off.
So, early one morning, before our paper rounds, me, Bob and another boy climbed through several gardens to take back the missing pigeons. In those days people didn't keep their pigeon lofts locked, so it was a simple matter to grab the birds and take them back to their rightful dwelling. We didn't get caught again.
I also remember watching some pigeon fighting over a Malteser on Paddington station. It was the funniest thing - they would all chase this rolling Malteser around until one of them managed to pick it up. When the bird tried to close its beak the Malteser would shoot out and the fun would begin again. How we laughed. I think I tried to repeat this some years later and it didn't work - either Maltesers had got smaller or pigeons bigger. Perhaps some more research is needed in this area.
Well, that just about pigeons me out. I've told you everything I know about pigeons, but if I think of anything else,I'll write it here.
Postscript: I received a comment taking me to task for laughing at these birds receiving medals and saying I should be more grateful to them for saving me from the Nazis.
I didn't mean no harm; but I must say that the thought of a Rear-Admiral pinning a medal on a bird is a bit funny.
I'm still puzzled as to why so many pigeons got medals compared to horses. I'd have thought horses were much braver. Also were the medals just for delivering messages, or did they also poo on the German High Command? Did German pigeons get any medals? What's the least likely animal to get a medal? I'd say a goldfish, but you never know.
