Motorbike dispatch riders the unsung heroes of two world wars. Air dispatch riders in rest lounge in italy on 12 august 1944. Jun 27, 2019 video wwii army motorcycle dispatch riders had brass balls. Video wwii army motorcycle dispatch riders had brass balls. The royal engineers took on the main task of providing them and men were specially trained pre1914 to operate motorcycles. The canadian army, like its british counterpart, used the 16h for dispatch. Tweet as americans, when we think of the role of women in world war ii wwii, we often envision factories filled with women wearing headscarves, riveting together airplanes. Dday auction illustrates a pivotal point in the history of. Despatch rider wikipedia, the free encyclopedia in world war ii, royal corps of signals soldiers carried out the role and the. Us and british soldier at dispatch letter service office in italy on 12. I am currently researching the 19141918 war as i am writing a novel in which one of the characters was a despatch rider and i want my writing and portrayal to be accurate. Motorcycle dispatch riders have been around nearly from the start of the motorcycle era. Despatch riders were used by armed forces to deliver urgent orders and messages between headquarters and military units. Special sections are devoted to the sas, the conflicts in the falklands, the gulf, and afghanistan.
You can expect complete details of travel locations and how to reach details. There was however no further establishment for despatch riders at this unit but the commanding officer there apparently wanted a. A canadian dispatch rider somewhere in normandy strikes a match on a mannequins hip. When it was approaching embarkation time i had to show a despatch rider from another unit the daily. Yet despite the odds stacked against them, dispatch riders held no rank and were rarely acknowledged for their important role in the war. Nov 06, 2017 despatch riders doug reid and norman given of the 9th canadian infantry brigade checking the route of a convoy taking part in a training exercise, england on may 17, 1944. Read more about harry watts life as canadian army dispatch rider in his book, the dispatch rider. The royal air force equipped it with a sidecar as standard. A royal warrant for the creation of a corps of signals was signed by the secretary of state for war, winston churchill, on 28 june 1920.
It was about this time that motorcycle despatch riders and wireless sets were introduced into service. Made in 1940s by victory garment manfacturers government contractors. The british army mostly used it as a solo vehicle during convoy marshalling and to dispatch riders. So the humble despatch rider was still relied on to get messages through. In the uk despatch rider is the most common term used for a motorcycle courier. Three transferred to the wraf typo corrected to wraf 842015. This blog site is about the saint john, nb, based motorcyle club, canadian vets remembrance motorcycle riders motorcycle club. Motorbike dispatch riders the unsung heroes of two world. Despatch riders definition of despatch riders by the. Virtually identical to a british paratrooper helmet except for the liner. Dispatchdespatch riders in france 1914 1918 other great.
Another british bike, the 16hs ruggedness and dependability made it popular despite its modest performance. You will get a lot out of this book if you value bottom up histories of ww1. Various shots of the canadian despatch riders being filmed by army cameramen probably for canadian newsreel. Signals companies in ww1 were part of the engineers. A dispatch rider on a 250cc bsa c10 receives her orders. Bbc ww2 peoples war my service in the royal signals. It was quickly abandoned by the military but revived after the war as a relatively cheap and portable civilian vehicle.
Six weeks later, king george v conferred the title royal corps of signals. All thirteen were allocated the job motor cyclist or despatch dispatch rider, and had no other job. Ww2 royal enfield wdc side valve 350 dispatch rider. I am currently researching the 19141918 war as i am writing a novel in which one of the characters was a despatch rider and i want my writing and portrayal. There are four photos of raf drls despatch rider letter service related activities in the book the postal history of the naval and raf postal services by e b proud. 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.
I subsequently found out that hugh cairns, the neurosurgeon who tended his injuries, would later write a pioneering study entitled head injuries in motorcyclists the importance of the crash helmet, which would lead to the british army ordering all despatch riders to. The harleydavidson wlc model the wl was the engine type and the c was for canadian was among the motorcycles driven by canadian dispatch riders and military police in the second. Despatch riders played a vital role in maintaining communications during the second world war. A despatch rider either rides a horse or a motorcycle despatch riders were used by armies to send messages between headquarters and the fighting soldiers. I sent a photo to the royal signals museum and was told his uniform was. Adventures of a motorcycle despatch rider during the first world war. Us and british soldier at dispatch letter service office in italy on 12 august 1944. Wwii despatch riders, nam da1492 army motorcycles were, and still are, used in a number of tasks such as convoy control, traffic control at critical points, escort duties, delivery of signals by despatch riders, and infantry reconnaissance.
They came into their own during the two world wars carrying messages to and fro across the battlefield. Jul 23, 2015 motorbike dispatch riders the unsung heroes of two world wars. Norton 16 h motorcycle, canadian war museum, ottawa, ontario. Ww2 british army dispatch riders pantaloons world war wonders. Im at the wonderful, war years remembered exhibition museum, based at ballyclare. Female dispatch riders of world war ii discovering the wartime history of the wrens by panhead jim. Ww2 rubberized motorcyclists coat dispatch rider genuine nos. Despatch riders doug reid and norman given of the 9th canadian infantry brigade checking the route of a convoy taking part in a training exercise, england on may 17, 1944.
They might be delivering reports, but sometimes they took urgent messages which were often secret. Ww2 british army dispatch riders pantaloons world war. Womens royal naval service despatch riders, who worked in all weathers delivering messages and parcels to ships and naval establishments. 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. A despatch rider or dispatch is a military messenger, mounted on horse or motorcycle and occasionally in egypt during world war i. Sep 5, 2018 canadian dispatch riders during war on motorcycles. The average age of the despatch riders was 23, the youngest 18, the oldest 32. 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.
Despatch rider the national archive series adm 336 and the. See more ideas about canadian army, war and war dogs. A despatch rider or dispatch is a military messenger, mounted on horse or motorcycle and occasionally in egypt during world war i, on camels. Bbc ww2 peoples war a few memories of a despatch rider. Despatch rider with a douglas 349cc motorcycle during the first world war. Jul 22, 2017 my grandfather donald maclaren served as a despatch rider during the great war and i would welcome any information about this group of men. My late father had a pal who was a bit of a rogue during the second world war and always had a tale of wheeling and dealing in post war germany.
Initially, he was a gunner but ended up as a dispatch rider. A dkw light dispatch motorcycle german soldiers ww2, german army, ww2 photos, history. A despatch rider is someone in the army who delivers messages despatch or dispatch means to send someone or something off on a journey. Ww1 records were badly burnt in a fire during ww2 so that only. Nov 01, 2007 listening to watts chuckles and easy attitude, i felt honoured i was allowed a glimpse into the life of a man whose contribution to wwii gave me what i enjoy today freedom. The female dispatch motorcycle riders of world war ii motorcyclist.
In wwii, royal corps of signals soldiers carried out the role and the royal signals motorcycle display team was formed from their. Americans typically on harleys and indians, brits on. In the uk despatch rider is also a term used for a motorcycle courier. The history of female dispatch riders starts far earlier than world war ii.
I recently visited tn in the usa and went to the veterans memorial museum, where there was only one piece of info on the british, there stood a. The museum features many exhibits from ww1 and ww2 including communications equipment, personal memorabilia and the stories of signallers, both men and women. Canadian soldier trainee riding a norton motorcycle during a despatch riders training. Despatch riders definition of despatch riders by the free. Throughout most of the great war the primary means. There are plenty of hands on exhibits to try, which really helps illustrate and explain how things work. Also was there offensive biker units and what kind of bikes did the germans use you know the one with the side car all help is a. Very rare 1944 ww2 british despatch riders coat prev stop play next 1944 ww2 british dispatch riders coat an amazing piece of history measures very approx 51 length when poppers closed 44 chest you can see from genuine image borrowed from the imperial war museum that this is the exact same coat worn in 1944 very heavy rubberproofed. See more ideas about wwii, british motorcycles and vintage motorcycles. The first group of wrens who rode motorcycles for britain was formed in 1917 during the world war i.
They were disbanded in 1919, but the service was revived in 1939 when britain again found itself at war. Despatch rider the national archive series adm 336 and. Een despatch rider is zoiets als een motorordonnans. With the despatch riders in north africa imperial war museum. My grandfather donald maclaren served as a despatch rider during the great war and i would welcome any information about this group of men.
Itp members will be stepped through a hundred plus years of signalling history, from shutter telegraphs through cable wagons, despatch riders, and world war ii radios to enigma machines and beyond. That may have been what was happening here in the us, but across the atlantic in britain, things were definitely more. Despatch rider frank shaughnessy of the 2nd antitank. They were also responsible for the maintenance of their motorbikes. A good original 1945 dated british army dispatch riders pantaloonsbreeches. A tropical coat for a luftwaffe dispatch rider made by peter nolte essen, 1942 functional clothing item of sandcoloured cotton twill, without button fly, closable through an incorporated belt and loops, with corresponding buttons and buttonholes the lower ends can be worn as chausses when riding a horse or a motorcycle. Bwh0005 wwii british dispatch riders helmet size 7. There was however no further establishment for despatch riders at this unit but the commanding officer there apparently wanted a clerical man. She had a copy of the magazine with her on the cover and explained how they rode at night without headlights for the ministry of information and churchills headquarters during the war. Air dispatch riders in rest lounge in italy on 12 august.
Sep 29, 2016 last week artcurial held a dday sale where the entire contents of a world war ii museum went up for auction every aspect of perhaps the most important single military confrontation in history. Various shots of the men smiling to camera, marching, talking, one of the men posing on his bike etc. Irish army bsa wd m20 500 cc motorcycle fort duncree museum. I felt honoured i was allowed a glimpse into the life of a man whose contribution to wwii gave me what. Last week artcurial held a dday sale where the entire contents of a world war ii museum went up for auction every aspect of perhaps the most important single military confrontation in. An archive of first world war research information on soldiers in the royal engineers. Very rare 1944 ww2 british despatch riders coat prev stop play next 1944 ww2 british dispatch riders coat an amazing piece of history measures very approx 51 length when poppers closed 44 chest you can see from genuine image borrowed from the imperial war museum that this is the exact same coat worn in 1944 very heavy rubberproofed, mustardcolored cottoncanvas coat. Kahled makram travelled 2,339 miles 3,765km from cairo to burnley, lancs, to return the leather satchel lost by 8th army despatch rider alec ross. I had at first thought this to be a harleydavidson and had sent the photo to them in hopes of gathering further info. Dday auction illustrates a pivotal point in the history. The great war was the first conflict in which motorcycle despatch riders played any sort of role in battlefield signals. The national wwii museum tells the story of the american experience in the war that changed the world why it was fought, how it was won. February 5, 2015 in motorcycle, motorcycle advocacy, motorcycle news tags.
Harry watts the dispatch rider motorcycles in the war. New celtic triskele windchime wind chimes wicca pagan. Similar in design to the paratroopers helmet, the dispatch riders helmet was introduced in october of 1942. An egyptian tour guide who found a world war ii soldiers bag which was lost in the desert for 60 years has returned it to the mans family. I have attached a photograph of my uncle harold taken somewhere over there italy, i think. Video wwii army motorcycle dispatch riders had brass. I too am trying to gather some information on the canadian armys dispatch riders in wwii. British ww2 era motorcyclist pantaloons pants dispatch rider motorcycle. See more ideas about vintage motorcycles, old motorcycles and vintage bikes. The media for this item are free to reuse for noncommercial purposes under the iwm non commercial licence and can be downloaded or embedded with the code we offer here. Dispatch riders were used by armed forces to deliver urgent orders and messages between headquarters and military units.
The original dinosaur is currently on display at bayworld. The leather is still in nice soft shape with the exception of one wear mark to the front sweat band. We were up exploring fort dunree museum lough swilly co. Oldham, lancashire, england, dispatch riders, leave. He traced mr rosss family through a bbc website on wwii. Ats despatch riders, 1943 c online collection national army. Fascinating photos of britains female dispatch riders during world war ii vintage everyday womens royal naval service despatch riders, who worked in all weathers delivering messages and parcels to ships and naval establishments. Oct 04, 2009 my late father had a pal who was a bit of a rogue during the second world war and always had a tale of wheeling and dealing in post war germany. Army signal corps photograph, gift of regan forrester, from the collection of the national world war ii museum. They communicated from hq down to brigades and for artillery down to batteries.
Love discovering exhilarating places and share his experience. Unused unissued material date and locations unclear or unknown. This example is in excellent condition, with only slight wear from service usage. The group can be identified by the gxu id of the bike. Those with motorcycle experience were brought in when volunteers flooded in after the outbreak of war. Communication methods included telephone lines subject to destruction by shelling, radio primitive and insecure, telegraph, lamps and flags ok where visible, pigeons, and drs despatch riders. Im not sure if anyone employed as a dispatch rider would actually be classed as. Photos, obituaries and short service records all available to view and download. Jul 19, 2015 you will get a lot out of this book if you value bottom up histories of ww1. The interior boasts a mini model of the stegosaurus, which was discovered in despatch in 1903. During world war ii, the british royal navy created an all female corps whose members were nicknamed the wrens.
Here is two fine examples of 1940s ww2 royal enfield wdc 350 side valve dispatch rider bikes on display. Dame katharine furse as first director 1917 dame vera laughton mathews as director 1939 1917 women for the navy new shore service to be formed. War on two wheels september 26, 2017 by sharon adams. Despatch, despatch rider, first world war, jobs, motor cyclist, national maritime museum, tna adm 336, womens royal naval service, wrns, wrns ratings, ww1 monday 2nd march saw wrensproject at the national maritime museum in greenwich, south east london, to attend a splendid illustrated talk on the first world war wrns.
With the despatch riders in north africa imperial war. You talk about daring and skilled riders they were the best according to the gi troops stationed in london. Lss of canadian despatch riders driving up to a truck on motorbikes. As part of a longterm vision, an initiative of the friends of despatch finally brought about the recentlyopened despatch museum. The leather is still in nice soft shape with the exception of one. British army despatch dispatch rider pantaloons trousers large size 18 w. Trench ww2 rubberized motorcyclists coat dispatch rider genuine nos, british bike bits.