The Quirky Type B Bus ‘Pigeon Loft’: A Battlefield Oddity On The Western Front

Throughout history, war has seen its fair share of unusual machines, but few were as intriguing as the Type B Bus “Pigeon Loft.”

These quirky vehicles were a familiar sight among Allied forces during World War I, serving an unexpected yet vital role.

Despite their peculiar design—essentially a moving home for messenger pigeons—the buses played a critical part in battlefield communication.

A Battlefield in Transition: Innovation Meets Tradition

Central Telegraph Office in Paris, France.

As the world plunged into the chaos of World War I, the battlefield was a blend of cutting-edge technology and age-old tactics.

Tanks roared across no man’s land, machine guns unleashed unprecedented firepower, and the telegraph promised rapid communication.

However, these advances came with limitations. Telegraphs, while revolutionary, were cumbersome and unreliable on the battlefield. The need for swift, dependable communication was paramount.

British troops of the 37th Division boarding Type B Buses at Arras following their return from the capture of Monchy-le-Preux.

This is where the ingenuity of military commanders came into play. They turned to an ancient messenger—carrier pigeons.

Type-B Bus “Pigeon Loft” on the Western Front during World War I.

These birds had been used for communication since as far back as the 6th century BC Persia, and their ability to navigate vast distances proved invaluable to armies facing the demands of modern warfare.

The Perfect Messenger: Why Pigeons Were Essential

Initially, they were horse-drawn trailers.

Carrier pigeons were not chosen by chance. They possessed extraordinary homing instincts, allowing them to fly back to their lofts from miles away.

Later, double-decker B-type buses were used as mobile bird shelters

At speeds of up to 60 miles per hour, these birds could deliver messages faster than soldiers on foot or horseback.

Pigeons were lightweight and required no fuel—qualities that made them ideal for wartime communication in trench-ridden, perilous landscapes.

To transport a large number of birds together, special mobile carriages were used, the so-called “pigeon lofts”.

In 1914, during the intense German advance toward Paris near the River Marne, pigeons carried critical messages that saved the Allies from disaster.

A message delivered by pigeon to the command headquarters allowed troops to regroup, a decisive moment that changed the course of the battle.

Some of the two-story vehicles were rebuilt in order to perform their new task

This old-world solution provided a reliable method of communication when new technologies faltered under the pressure of war.

The Evolution of the Type B Bus “Pigeon Loft”

The passenger seats on both levels were removed

While pigeons were the stars of battlefield communication, their living quarters also played a crucial role.

Enter the Type B Bus “Pigeon Loft”—a retrofitted double-decker bus from the streets of London that became a mobile birdhouse on wheels.

Type B Bus “Pigeon Loft” During World War I

Initially, pigeons were housed in horse-drawn carriages, but the challenges of war necessitated more durable and adaptable vehicles.

A Type B Bus “Pigeon Loft” During World War I

These buses, once bustling with passengers, were stripped down and redesigned. Passenger seats were removed, windows were boarded up on the first floor, and nets were installed on the second level, allowing the birds to fly out swiftly when deployed.

The windows on the first floor were shuttered with boards, and the fence on the second floor was replaced by windows

This transformation turned an ordinary city bus into a key component of battlefield logistics.

The British Army used these mobile pigeon lofts to transport large numbers of pigeons to the front lines, ensuring a constant supply of birds for communication purposes.

The innovation was not only practical but symbolized the resourcefulness of armies during World War I.

Heroic Feathers: Cher Ami and Other Brave Birds

Not all pigeons were mere messengers—some became war heroes. One of the most famous was Cher Ami, a carrier pigeon whose actions in 1918 earned her one of France’s highest military honors, the Croix de Guerre.

Cher Ami was part of an American battalion trapped behind enemy lines, surrounded by German forces.

Desperate for help, the soldiers released several pigeons, but Cher Ami was the only one to make it through, delivering the plea for aid and saving nearly 200 men.

Severely injured during her flight, with a bullet wound in her chest and a damaged leg, Cher Ami managed to complete her mission in just half an hour.