Cher Ami: Hundreds of Soldiers Were Trapped… One Pigeon Was Their Last Hope
Part of: Animal Heroes & Amazing Trees
In October 1918, about 550 American soldiers were surrounded in a forest in France, and their army's guns began firing at them by mistake. They had one pigeon left. Learn five B1 words and the first conditional with the true story of Cher Ami — and why historians still ask questions about it.
Coming 5 December 2026, 3:00 pm New York time
Transcript
Tap a time to jump to that moment. Highlighted words have a meaning: tap them. Words in bold show today's grammar.
October 1918.
Hundreds of American soldiers were in a forest.
Then their army's guns began firing at them by mistake.
They had one left.
This is the story of Cher Ami.
.
A is a large group of soldiers in an army, often several hundred.
A of about 550 men went deep into the forest.
.
If you are , there are enemies or things all around you, and you can't get out.
Soon, the was .
.
A is a grey bird that you often see in towns.
Some can carry .
Their only hope was a basket of .
.
When you are , you have almost no hope, so you will try anything.
Tired, hungry and thirsty, the men were .
.
A is some words that you send to someone.
Major Whittlesey wrote a short .
Now, one pattern: the first conditional.
If plus the present, then will.
We use it for a real chance in the future and its result.
The bird doesn't get through.
We'll die.
If the bird doesn't get through, we'll die.
Ready?
Let's begin.
In October 1918, American soldiers were fighting in the Argonne Forest in France.
A of about 550 men went deep into the forest.
But the soldiers beside them could not keep up.
Soon, the was .
The men had little food.
To get water, they had to crawl to a small stream.
Their only hope was a basket of .
If you let a homing go, it will fly straight back to its home.
On 4 October, American guns began firing at the forest by mistake.
Their army didn't know they were there.
The men knew: if a soldier runs for help, the Germans will catch him.
Tired, hungry and thirsty, the men were .
Major Charles Whittlesey, the 's leader, wrote a short .
It said: "Our is dropping a directly on us. For heaven's sake, stop it."
A soldier took out a , but it got away and flew off without the .
Now they had one left.
The army's story says it was Cher Ami, French for "dear friend".
He came from England.
A soldier tied the to the bird's leg.
Every man knew: if the bird doesn't get through, we'll die.
Cher Ami flew up over the trees.
German soldiers saw him and fired.
He was shot, and he fell.
Then, slowly, he flew up again.
He flew about 40 kilometres in about half an hour.
At his , soldiers found him badly hurt in the chest.
The was hanging from a hurt leg.
The got through!
The army said it helped to stop the guns.
A few days later, other American soldiers reached the .
Of about 550 men, only about 194 walked out.
Whittlesey got the Medal of Honor, America's most important medal for bravery.
Army doctors kept Cher Ami alive, but they couldn't keep his leg.
People say an army animal doctor made him a small wooden leg.
And France gave him a medal called the Croix de Guerre.
In 1919, Cher Ami sailed to America, but he died a few months later.
Today, he is in the Smithsonian museum in Washington.
In 2021, a DNA test showed he was male.
Historians still ask questions about parts of his story.
Let's review.
A of about 550 men went deep into the forest.
Soon, the was .
Their only hope was a basket of .
Tired, hungry and thirsty, the men were .
Major Whittlesey wrote a short .
And remember: if the bird doesn't get through, we'll die.
Cher Ami's story teaches us: even when you're hurt, you can keep going, and your courage can bring others home.
Step 3
Words from the story
Say the word, guess its meaning, then flip the card. Keep the ones you know, and practise the rest again.
Great work, you know every word in this story. Now try the quiz below.
battalion noun
a large group of soldiers in an army, often several hundred
“A battalion of about 550 men went deep into the forest.”
surrounded adjective
with enemies or things all around you, so you can't get out
“Soon, the battalion was surrounded.”
pigeon noun
a grey bird often seen in towns; some pigeons can carry messages
“Their only hope was a basket of pigeons.”
desperate adjective
having almost no hope, so you will try anything
“Tired, hungry and thirsty, the men were desperate.”
message noun
some words that you send to someone
“Major Whittlesey wrote a short message.”
artillery noun
very big guns that fire over a long distance
“Their army's artillery fired at the forest by mistake.”
loft noun
a small house where people keep pigeons
“Cher Ami flew back to his loft.”
barrage noun
a lot of shooting from big guns at the same time
“A barrage fell on the men in the forest.”
Grammar in the story
If + present simple, will + verb (first conditional)
We use it for: a real chance in the future, and its result
- If it rains, we'll stay at home.
- If you don't hurry, you'll be late.
- If she studies, she will pass.
From the story
- If the bird doesn't get through, we'll die.
- If you let a homing pigeon go, it will fly home.
Find it in the story 4 times
Your turn
If the guns firing, the men will die.
If a soldier runs for help, the Germans him.
If it tomorrow, we will stay at home.
Step 4
Story Challenge
10 quick rounds: choose, fill the gap, build the sentence and match the words. Answer in a row to build a streak and earn bonus points.
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Take it further
Before you watch: Have you ever seen a pigeon in your town? How do you think people sent messages in a war before radios and phones?
After you watch: Write three sentences with the first conditional. For example: If it rains tomorrow, I’ll stay at home. If I study tonight, I’ll pass the test. If my friend calls, I’ll answer.
Think about it: Cher Ami kept flying even when he was badly hurt. When did you keep going even when something was hard?
Did you know? Cher Ami’s message also said, “We are along the road parallel 276.4” — a place on the army’s map. In 2021, a Smithsonian historian, Frank Blazich, studied old army papers. He found that Cher Ami really was badly hurt while carrying a message in October 1918, but maybe on a different day, near a town called Grandpré — so nobody can be sure he carried the Lost Battalion’s message. In 2023, an expert repaired the old bird with duck and goose feathers coloured to look like a pigeon’s. Today you can see him at the National Museum of American History in Washington.
Image credits: Cher Ami photos — Smithsonian National Museum of American History (CC0); 1918–1919 photos — U.S. Army / Signal Corps (public domain); see the list in the script’s Images section.
