Hikers Found A Century-Old Carrier Pigeon Capsule – With A Chilling Military Message Stashed Inside
Strolling through the fields of northeast France, a couple spots something metallic glistening in the light. Looking closer, they realize it’s a tiny canister, with an even smaller note tucked inside. Back in the days of World War I, soldiers used capsules such as these to send messages via carrier pigeon, reaching compatriots many miles away. But this one arrived more than 100 years too late.
A Bloody Past
Today, the region of Ingersheim is a sleepy corner of France’s Alsace region, full of vineyards and rolling hills. But in the early years of the 20th century, it was a far less peaceful place. In 1871 the area had been handed over to Germany by France, landing it on the losing side of the bloody conflict to come.
Deciphering The Note
Was the note found in the field a relic from the battlefields of World War I? Or a missive from another violent engagement? According to experts, the hard-to-decipher message depicts a disastrous military encounter in either 1910 or 1916, during which a unit dubbed Platoon Potthof sustained a number of losses.
Reliable Communication
Determined to leave a record of the carnage, one soldier had apparently scrawled the note and attached it to a carrier pigeon. Loyal and true, these incredible birds were known to carry messages for miles at great speed – no matter what threats faced them at every turn. But this time around, something prevented it from reaching its destination.
Brave Fliers
Of course, the reason that this particular brave bird never made it to its destination has been lost in the mists of time. But the note that it left behind has revealed a fascinating glimpse into the past. For decades, pigeons such as these formed an essential part of the war effort, helping messages get through where all other means of communication failed.
