article_snippet: Horses played a crucial role ferrying supplies to Australian troops during World War One and carrier pigeons kept commanders in touch with soldiers fighting on the front lines.
article_snippet: They became very important to moving supplies and men from behind the lines to the battlefield.
article_snippet: The rest were put down or handed off to British units and used in Palestine.
article_snippet: ‘Very often the phone lines on the Western front would be destroyed in artillery barrages.
article_snippet: Carrier pigeons were used by troops to send important logistical information to Carrier pigeons commanders when phone lines were damaged or it was difficult to send a runner.
article_snippet: Carrier pigeons were silent, quick and weren’t affected by the gas that hung over combat zones at ground level.
article_snippet: Men would go forward during battle carrying cages of pigeons
article_snippet: so Men could talk to Men commanders if all else failed,’ Mr Mercer told Daily Mail Australia.
article_snippet: Carrier pigeons were used by troops to send ‘important logistical information’ back to their commanders when the phone lines were damaged or it was difficult to send a runner.
article_snippet: ’ Mr Mercer said this only testifies to the importance of the messages Carrier pigeons carried.
article_snippet: so soldiers were able to examine maps or intelligence reports, even read letters from home.
highlights_snippet: Pigeons carried vital messages from the frontlines to commanders when lines were cut and runners weren't viable .
  