Fire cats go!

A warfare manual by the siege warfare professional Franz Helm from around 1530 includes a curious illustration of a cat carrying fire. The manual suggests that when left with no other options, capture a pigeon or cat from the local area, and strap a bomb or fire to its back in a container. The idea was that the freaked out animal would run home and light the city on fire. However cats being contrary as they are, would probably run under your ammunition wagon or snuggle onto your commanders lap. Which is probably why we don't have any record of fire cats used in battle.

Your neighborhood beer drinking mamals

If any of you have ever left a beer outside and seen your neighborhood wild life lumber over and lap it up you probably know of skunks secret love for alcohol. But I'm lying, this is not a literal phrase. Though I have seen a cat lick up almost an entire bottle of wine and proceed to sort of role down the attic stairs.

Why do we say drunk as a skunk? Probably because drunk only rhymes with 16 other frequently used English words and the only other one that makes sense is monk, and that saying already exists. Also people don't like it when you make fun of religious figures. Another possible reason, it sounds better than stinking drunk and has the same connotation.

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Kitty War Hero

 

Simon was smuggled on board the HMS Amethyst by a 17 year old sailor who found the sick hungry cat in Hong Kong. The cat quickly made himself both useful and lovable presenting rats to beloved sailors and sleeping in the captains hat. The ship changed hands and the new captain loved Simon as well. As the ship took its first mission up the Yangtze river it was attacked by communists, in 1949, during the "Yangtze Incident." A cannon shot through the captains quarters killing the captain and injuring Simon badly. Simon was repaired by the ships doctors, but not expected to live the night. Simon recovered and was handed over to a third captain who was indifferent to his charm. The recovering Simon again made himself useful, killing off the rat infestation and raising morale. Simon is the only cat to have been rewarded the Dickin Medal, an award to honor valorous animals. He also received the blue cross, the Amythest Campaign Medal, and was given the rank "Able Seacat" created especially for him. Entering the U.K., Simon had to go through quarantine like all animals do. He died of a complication that was a result of a virus contractced through his war wounds

War Pigeons in World War II

By World War II communications were greatly improved but pigeons were still used to supplement other types of communication. They were used in emergencies and also when a person was too close to the enemy lines and did not want to be detected. 

Mary of Exeter was a racing pigeon gone war pigeon during WWII. She was injured repeatedly taking a gun shot wound, attack by a hawk, and shrapnel wound, recovering each time. The pigeon recieved 22 stiches and a leather collar. She lived another 10 years.

Paddy the Irish pigeon was the first Pigeon to deliver news of the successful D-day. it took him four hours and five minutes to fly the 230 miles across the English channel (thats about 57.5 miles per hour for four hours strait)

In 1942, Winkie was thrown free of her cage on a crashed and sinking bomber plane. She flew 129 miles to Scotland. Her plane was located and the crew saved from the small cold dingy they had been huddling in. These men threw a feast for Winkie and her owner.

Born in 1943, G.I. Joe sent messages for the Americans during WWII. The British were trying to capture Colvi Vecchia, the Germans unexpectedly fell back and the British entered the city with little resistance. Their were plans for the Americans to bomb the town later that day, and all communications failed. The city that was scheduled to be bombed was now filled with British soldiers. G.I. Joe was sent out in a final attempt to call off the bombing, he flew the 25 miles back to base, and arrived just in time to stop the planes from taking off. He saved more than 100 soldiers from friendly fire.

G.I.Joe

War Pigeons in World War I

During WWI,  before two way radios were available, messages were often sent by wired transmitter. However, when going into enemy territory, or covering rough terrain, lines could not be laid and in came the very important carrier pigeon.  Pigeons were transported in backpacks and even in tanks. and they carried their messages in tiny metal tubes tied to their leg or were fitted with cameras to spy on the enemy. War pigeons led very dangerous lives, the enemy often attempted to shoot them down in order to intercept and stop messages. Despite this the birds were highly effective and went on thousands of missions.

"The Mocker" was born in 1917, he took 52 trips before being wounded. On his final trip he lost his left eye and part of his head, but he made it anyway. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Croix de Guere. He died at the ripe old age of 20 (15 is a good age for a captive pigeon), and was the last of the pigeon war heroes to die.

In 1918 American forces were trapped in a small depression surrounded by Germans hiding in a ravine. They sent many pigeons to call for help but the 500 men were quickly falling under German fire, and only 200 men were left by the second day. When the Americans arrived that afternoon they began shelling the area where they thought the Germans were, little did they know they were dropping them right on their own people. The Major sent out their last carrier pigeon, Cher Ami, telling them to stop. As the remaining troops watched Cher Ami climb the Germans tried their hardest to shoot him down. Somehow the little bird escaped and flew 25 miles in 25 minutes and delivered his message. 

    "we are along the road parallel to 276.3" "our artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us" "for Heaven's sake, stop it."

 Cher Ami saved 194 lives and was awarded the Croix de Guere. He had been shot through the chest and through the leg, the mesage capsule was hanging by a few ligaments. He died a year later

In 1918, President Wilson the Pigeon was experienced at sending messages about artillery locations from tanks. When his unit came under attack he flew 25 miles in 25 minutes and where he delivered the call for backup. His left leg was completely shot off and he had a huge wound in his chest.

Kaiser was  born in 1917, a German pigeon captured by American Forces, Kaiser was a pigeon POW. Kaiser was enlisted in the carrier pigeon breeding program, he had more than 100 children who participated in both world wars. He lived to 33, he is the oldest pigeon on record and the only pigeon who participated in both world wars.

Trial by combat: Dog Vs. Maquer

In early 1400s France it was acceptable to have trial by combat. Presided over by  royalty, the idea was that God would let the innocent live. In this same time period and man named Montdidier and his gentle greyhound lived happily together, until someone murdered Montdidier, buried him, and left a very unhappy Greyhound to his own devices. The hungry, lonely dog journeyed to London and sought out Montdidiers friend Ardilliers. Ardilliers finding it strange that the dog would show up alone payed a visit to Montdidier, and the dog lead Ardilliers to the grave site. The dog dug at the site until Ardilliers got the idea and exhumed the body of his friend. When the dog later saw Maquer, his masters killer, he attacked him. Each time the dog saw this man he would attack with a vengeance, which was strange for a dog that had always been so well tempered. The dogs attacks made Ardilliers suspicious and so he brought the matter before the king. The king ordered a trial by combat, Dog Vs. Maquer, mono a mono. When the dog attacked Maquer couldn't stand it and admitted to murder, leading to his hanging.

J. Wootton, 1738, A Grey Spotted Hound