Postcard, 'Au Pigeon de Verdun'

The last pigeon

This First World War commemorative postcard depicts a photograph of the plaque 'The Pigeon of Verdun' [Fort De Vaux], France. It commemorates, in French, the flight of the last passenger pigeon of Commandant Raynal, which departed from Fort du Faux during the Battle of Verdun on 4 June 1916. The French title translates to 'For Pigeon Lovers / Died for France / The Pigeon of Verdun'.

A call for help

The defense of Fort Vaux was marked by heroism and endurance of the French garrison, particularly Major Sylvian Eugene Raynal. Raynal led the defense of the besieged garrison, fending off repeated German assaults. The defense of Fort Vaux, including underground fighting, was the first major engagement to happen completely inside a fort during the First World War. On 4 June and with all radio contacts severed, Raynal sent his last carrier pigeon to request help from French relief forces:

'We are holding on but we are under attack from [poison] gas and shells. Very dangerous. Urgent we get away from all this ...... which does not respond to our calls for help. This is my last pigeon.'

Heroic service

The postcard explains the pigeon accomplished its mission, earning the following citation:

'In spite of enormous difficulties resulting from intense shelling and a huge emission of [poison] gas, [this pigeon] accomplished the mission which had been assigned to it by Commandant Raynal. As a unique means of communication from the heroic defenders of Fort du Vaux, it transmitted the last order which was received from this officer. Severely poisoned, the pigeon arrived dying.'

Due to the success of one of many heroic pigeons keeping communication lines open during the war, the first of five French relief forces arrived the next day. However, the forces failed to relieve the garrison and, lacking water and ammunition, Raynal surrendered on 7 June 1916.