Dodger

War affects countries, and the lives of residents and messenger pigeons. History is filled with stories of the average, the heroic, and with historical facts believed to be true. Not only were human participants there by choice or by conscription, there were animals conscripted to assist their human benefactors. If given a choice would they believe in a cause and volunteer? What about the common pigeon, the birds of flight that delivered messages across the battle fields. For every successful messenger there were countless ones that fell under the barrage of enemy fire. Who protected the messenger pigeons? Meet Dodger, a breed of pigeon adept at tumbling, rolling, and the majestic art of aerial displays for entertainment. Tumblers were not messengers or racers, yet they held their part in the protection of messengers, acting as rescuers, and diversions to protect the messengers from harm. Meet, Johnathon ‘Dodger’ Wentworth-Tumbler, a First World War Rescue Pigeon.