Ww1 1916 douglas 2 34 hp war department motorcycle. The douglas 350cc and the triumph model h 6hp 500cc motorcycles were the standard despatch riders motorcycle of the british army during the. Diary of a despatch rider on the western front 191518 warfare. Ww1 1917 german despatch south african light horse trooper, brabants horse trooper, duke of edinburghs volunteer rifles dispatch rider, 1900. Aug 28, 2018 ww2britishbattledress1940patterndispatchrider30corpsroyal. This book is a skilfully abridged version of the diary of a first world war motorcycle despatch rider, sergeant albert simpkin, who was attached. See more ideas about canadian army, war and war dogs. They had a vital role at a time when telecommunications were limited and insecure. The tragedy of this horrible war is still apparent in the book, but for me it is the glaring anomalies that stand out the most. The terrain was difficult, as was the maintenance of temperamental vehicles by complete amateurs at. Ww2 british army dispatch riders pantaloons world war. Those with motorcycle experience were brought in when volunteers flooded in after the outbreak of war. Despatch rider great war photos ww1 photos centenary. Motorcycle despatch riders were first used in wwi by the british army royal engineers signal service.
Ww2 british dispatch rider boots ww2 british dispatch rider boots in made from black and tan plain leather with 3 straps of outside. What were the changes in weapons comparing ww1 and ww2. Hewing tells me that the motorcycle machine gun section consisted of six clyno combinations, two with guns, two without which had armoured. Americans typically on harleys and indians, brits on. Peter suciu, whose previous articles for have included the small arms rifles, submachine guns, machine guns of the major world war ii belligerents, turns his attention to the principal hand guns used by allied and axis countries. British military motorcycling, 18991919 by martin gegg examines the evolving role of the despatch rider as a vital part of the military during the transition from horse to motorised transport. Dispatch riders were issued a special pair of boots and breeches to ride motorbikes during ww2. Why were men on hoseback still charging at men manning machine guns. Electronic communication wasnt secure, so despatch riders were used. A good original 1945 dated british army dispatch riders pantaloonsbreeches.
Lady requests girls to enrol as volunteers for ats and explains what jobs are available. This was because despatch riders had to be able to speak directly to officers, and the military rules of the day prevented rankers eg, privates, or drivers or sappers. A collection of free great war titles from using the search term 19141918 here ignore the first one, each to their own but it is a rather weird music file. With our fighting forces, the motor cycle, 10 september 1914, p334. They are in excellent order with no damage but just minor surface wear in places, all original buttons are in place and good and the original size label is to the rear for sizes see photos it has a printed date of 1945 and an ink stamped date of july 1945. The despatch rider and the wren is part of the british war stories series, this episode focusses on husband and wife john and margaret gordon. The boots were a high leg and had 3 metal buckles on top plus a reinforced leather toe for protection. These boots have been made with a rubber dms sole instead of the original leather sole which makes it safer and more comfortable to wear. Despatch rider for his majestys pigeon service leaving with birds for the trenches. Harry watts the dispatch rider motorcycles in the war. Gegg examines early testing at brooklands through to the use of motorcycles on the military frontline.
Various shots of the canadian despatch riders being filmed by army cameramen probably for canadian newsreel. Ww1 dispatch rider henry foreman wynn wed aug 25, 2010 4. My great grandad was a dispatch rider in ww1 as he lost an eye working on. Despatch riders ww1 world war one page 1 rootschat.
Unfortunately, rather than reflect a proud military tradition, their distinctive clothing often symbolised their lowly rank on the western front. The great war was the first conflict in which motorcycle despatch riders played any sort of role in battlefield signals. In july 1943 approval was given for the issue of the. One of the jobs in which the wrens received worldwide recognition was that of the motorcycle dispatch rider. Vintage 1915 ww1 world war 1 poster the latest despatch send more men.
Because watson had quite a privileged home background this is not a typical bottom up account, but it is very readable. An extremely nice pair of wartime british military dispatch riders boots. Adventures of a motorcycle despatch rider during the first. Unusual and unique aircraft from the movietone collection duration. S a women despatch riders aka south african women despatch riders.
Motorcycle dispatch riders have been around nearly from the start of the motorcycle era. Read more about harry watts life as canadian army dispatch rider in his book, the dispatch rider. D cap the only motorcycle items are gloves,goggles and the waterproof macintosh coat and leggings. Buy adventures of a motorcycle despatch rider during the first world war by w h l watson isbn. New listing good mens vintage ww2 army dispatch rider over motorcycle trousers 1943. He promptly purchased his own motorcycle and enlisted. Ww1 dispatch rider henry foreman wynn who do you think. Dr was a royal signals trade when i joined in 56, although i do remember the rmp with bikes as well. Various shots of the men smiling to camera, marching. Despatch riders were used by armed forces to deliver urgent orders and messages between headquarters and military units. L watson wrote a book called adventures of a despatch rider and here is an. Canadians interested in canadian daily record in trenches near lens.
A royal engineers despatch rider, ww1 with images classic. Jan 04, 20 this was because despatch riders had to be able to speak directly to officers, and the military rules of the day prevented rankers eg, privates, or drivers or sappers. In the uk despatch rider is also a term used for a motorcycle courier. Entries are listed below in alphanumeric order 1toz. Operating towards the rear of the front lines, it was still a risky existence. From british army uniforms and insignia of world war two, by brian l. I just need confirmation that these boots would have been available in 19141918 and, hopefully, photos to proove it. None of the information is personally identifiable. I have found the boots 6 photos attached which i believe are dispatch riders boots which i want to wear.
The museum features many exhibits from ww1 and ww2 including communications equipment, personal memorabilia and the stories of signallers, both men and women. I think its probably a case of many soldiers were given a motorbike to carry out their duties, but not all would necessarily be r signals dispatch riders. The royal engineers took on the main task of providing them and men were specially trained pre1914 to operate motorcycles. Canadian despatch rider and signal operators at work. The pistol was a last ditch close quarter weapon and was issued to. Women from the south african army show off their motorcycle skills. This is ww1 seen from a different perspective, that of the despatch motorcycle rider. Video wwii army motorcycle dispatch riders had brass balls. Oct, 2007 hi rob, dispatch riders wore the standard 1902 s. They came into their own during the two world wars carrying messages to and fro across the battlefield.
Sep 5, 2018 canadian dispatch riders during war on motorcycles. A despatch rider or dispatch is a military messenger, mounted on horse or motorcycle and occasionally in egypt during world war i, on camels in the uk despatch rider is also a term used for a motorcycle courier despatch riders were used by armed forces to deliver urgent orders and messages between headquarters and military units. There is an interesting account of a despatch rider in the first six months or so of the war which is a fascinating read. My grandfather was a dispatch rider in the army service corps. See more ideas about wwii, world war and world war two. Breast of man overjacket 41ins to 43ins sold out size 10 height of man 511 to 60. They appeared to be a law unto themselves, wearing leather jerkins, lace up riding boots, crash helmets and generally covered in shoite, with the odd beer bottle generally in evidence. Military side arms of the major combatant powers by peter suciu editors note. It was based on an existing civilian model the wl with a 45cubic inch vtwin and a solo saddle. Four motorcycle bren gun teams of the royal montreal regiment. British despatch rider other equipment great war forum.
Breast of man overjacket 43ins to 44inssold out size 9 height of man 511 to 60. We outline some key kit and systems below but this is not an exhaustive list. From my previous linky our thinking was that as we had motor bikes we would join the royal signals as despatch riders which we did. R pantaloons with leather gaiters although puttees are seen worn in several photos, the cap is also the 1902 s. Motorbike dispatch riders the unsung heroes of two world wars. The author, an oxford graduate, saw an advert in the newspaper shortly after war broke out appealing for motorcyclists. A despatch rider or dispatch is a military messenger, mounted on horse or motorcycle in the. Motorbike dispatch riders the unsung heroes of two world.
He served at the royal engineers signals depot in canterbury and was discharged on december 1919. Army specifications during the early stages of world war ii. Ww2 picture photo rasc despatch rider with matchless g3. Radio was the future but, as all royal signals operators know, this came with its own challenges especially in the hf frequency band. The harleydavidson wla was designed specifically to meet u. Dispatch riders uniform setduring ww2 british motorcyclist were to be found in all brigades and divisions preforming a variety of different roles from a dispatch rider delivering messages in the royal signals from unit headquarters and royal artillery delivering messages to gun batteries,road traffic duty in the royal military police and a general motorcyclist in most corp passing on urgent. In the british army, motorcycle despatch riders were first used in the world war i by the royal engineers signal service. World war 11 british military despatch riders motorcycle. Mint coat size 8 mint condition have found a large lot of dispatch riders coats all sizes. Amazon kindle free ww1 books virtual library great.
In the first and second world war despatch riders on motorcycles carried. How motorcycle despatch riders helped win world war one british. During the war, the number of wrens peaked at nearly 74,000, and the number of different jobs they performed increased to more than 200. Swept up by what fleming describes as an initial patriotic euphoria at the outbreak of the war, young men were quick to enlist. When it was approaching embarkation time i had to show a despatch rider from another unit the daily run to glasgow which was part of the sections duties.
Dispatch riders dr boots by gse soldier of fortune military. As a despatch rider he had one of the most dangerous jobs, travelling in all sorts of weather and over all sorts of terrain, day and night, to and from the trenches. Ww1 british canadian cef dispatch rider trade patch. A history of british motorbikes in the military carole nash. The great powers entered world war i expecting to fight it in much the same way as previous recent conflicts. See more ideas about wwii, british motorcycles and vintage motorcycles. Side carbsa motorcyclediorama british armed forcesww2 picturesuk historywar dogswar photographyww2 tanks.
Ww2 british army dispatch riders pantaloons world war wonders. A good original 1945 dated british army dispatch rider s pantaloonsbreeches. There are a total of 37 wwi british infantry weapons 1914 1918 in the military factory. Jul 23, 2015 the life of a dispatch rider proved more treacherous than an infantryman, and were paid accordingly. The riders delivered reports, orders and maps between units. Thanks steve, that was a book i didnt spot in the free selection at amazon. A history of world war one in 10 deadly weapons independent.
The boots are dirtydusty from years of storage and could do with a good clean and polish but are in amazing condition, the leather still retaining its original pebbled texture to the surface layer and all is soft and supple, the buckles and straps are again excellent and the soles are in nice. From a collection of 18 photograph postcards collected by 316956 sapper harold wilbert, royal engineers despatch rider, 19171919 c. During the second world war john started out serving in the antiaircraft artillery before becoming a despatch rider. The rubberproofed coat, pattern 1942the rubberproofed coat, pattern 1942 for wear by motorcyclists was made in such a way that the tail could be brought up through the. British motorcyclists federation would like to be able to use cookies to store small amounts of information on your computer to make your experience of this site better. He and his fellow dispatch riders frequently had to dodge artillery fire in the difficult search for the units to which they were delivering orders. Flag images indicative of country of origin and not necessarily the primary operator. On the 6th march 1942 i became a dispatch rider group d class with an increase in pay, moving then onto largs in scotland to become a part of 78dr section 1st army signals. The alternatives, line and despatch riders mainstays of world war 1 were no longer viable alone in future warfare. A despatch rider during ww1, as featured in new sam mendes film. It wasnt an easy job because many riders had to navigate through artillery fire and get behind enemy lines.
The c set therefore heralded as the first real communications challenge in the use of radio. A feature of the first world war was the graduation from horsemounted men delivering information to the motorcycle despatch rider. The improvement on the machine gun made it to be more effective and longer lasting on the field than compared to the ww1 machine guns. For riders, enlistment as a dispatcher lasted a year, or however long the war lasted. Dispatch rider meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. They were also used by the royal air force and the royal navy, where they maintained contact with land bases and some of the riders were members of the womens royal naval service wraf. Jul 19, 2015 this is ww1 seen from a different perspective, that of the despatch motorcycle rider. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Wwi british infantry weapons 19141918 military factory. He graduated from edinburgh university with a degree in ecological sciences and followed a career in countryside management.
Ww1 1916 douglas 2 34 hp war department motorcycle youtube. Ww2 rubberized motorcyclists coat dispatch rider genuine nos. Made in 1940s by victory garment manfacturers government contractors. Cavalry and infantry would engage in a few pitch battles, after which the loser would. British industry rose to new levels during world war 1, producing some of the conflicts more iconic weapons.
Height of shaft 14 inch with leather sole and steel beetween the soe and heel. Some small discolouration in the neck that i tried to get in the photos. Despatch riders were part of the royal engineers signal service, the unit of the army tasked. Bbc ww2 peoples war a few memories of a despatch rider. Documentary war stories the despatch rider and the wren. How motorcycle despatch riders helped win world war one. Riding through a village i caught up a convoy of french horse drawn vehicles, guns, etc. Worthwhile buying for the 198 photographs of ww1 front line devastation though they are not related to watsons lively account of his nine months as a despatch rider during 191415.