West Cumbria now has a permanent reminder of the part pigeons had to play in wartime.
A plaque has been unveiled outside the Union Jack Club in Workington paying tribute to the animals and homing pigeons that lost their lives on the various battlefields.
It all stems from the moment, in 2008 when Carlisle fancier Stephen Glencross was walking through Bitts Park towards the Eden bridge along the river when he noticed a pigeon with a damaged wing.
He recalls: “It had two rings on and a rubber ring but old and dirty. I put my walking stick down and tried to catch the bird but it flew off, sort of lop-sided towards the bridge.
“It was then that it occurred to me why not put a monument up to the pigeons and animals in this country who had lost their lives in war.”
The result of that sudden thought was to lead to a monument being built at Devil’s Porridge Museum in Eastriggs.
Stephen says: “Many pigeon fanciers nationwide all chipped in. Even her Majesty the Queen contributed along with various individuals and a few local businesses.
“We held a sale at Flimby and also a phone-in sale, run by a committee of which I was secretary and founder member along with Les Blacklock,while a committee was formed to oversee the building of the monument.
“Since then we have built other monuments on a smaller scale as Gary Crozier, Frankie Dolan and myself have continued on our own up.
“We have had made quite a number of plaques which have been put up locally and we have also sent poster plaques all over the country.
“The plaques we put up now are really top quality polished Lakeland slate and I believe look very beautiful. The wording really does express the feelings for Animals in War which have fallen on the field of battle alongside our brave service men and women.
“The plaque we have just put up at the Union Jack Club was sponsored by Unite the Union and the Cumbria Region Combine with help and support from the Animals in War group, Carlisle.
“We will continue to put-up plaques and occasionally hold an exhibition for Animals in War.
“Next year we are to be part of a military fair at Carlisle castle by putting on an exhibition on at the Cumbria military life museum.”
Monuments have been erected at the Animals Refuge, Oak Tree, Wetheral near Carlisle; Tarn Road Nursery, Brampton; the Animals Sanctuary near Wigton and Silloth Airfield, with the original big one at Devil’s Porridge Museum, Eastriggs.
The Union Jack Club is the headquarters of the Workington Victoria Flying Club and is where the Derwent Valley Federation hold their meetings.