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111:. When the War Department called for motorcyclists to volunteer with their machines for despatch work at the start of August 1914, the response was huge. The London office had 2000 more applicants than places, and a similar response was reported in regional centres around the country. If a rider and machine were approved then £10 was paid immediately, £5 to be paid on discharge (unless due to misconduct), and pay was 35s per week. The motor cycle would be taken over at valuation price, or would be replaced with a new one at the close of operations. Enlistment was for one year or as long as the war might last. The preference was for 500cc single cylinder machines and the horizontally-opposed twin cylinder. All machines had to have a "change speed gear". The following list of spares was also required to be carried :
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As the war progressed the wide variety of volunteered machinery presented maintenance and spares problems, and so were progressively replaced by a limited range of military models, and in specific regions of the world or parts of the service only one of these models might be found, for example the
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motorcycles for despatch riders. At this time the French Army were still mobilising, but it was reported they had a squad of
Triumphs as well as a variety of French makes.
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A September 1914 account states that French despatch riders, like the
British, are equipped with revolvers, whereas their German counterparts are equipped with
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Despatch riders were used by armed forces to deliver urgent orders and messages between headquarters and military units. They had a vital role at a time when
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for despatch riders, and although radio communications were much more advanced during WW II than WW I - huge numbers were produced (e.g. over 75,000
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on different terms to patrol country districts and distribute royal proclamations. These bikes carried a plate on the front with the lettering "
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supplied 100 machines to the
Italian Government for despatch purposes in 1916, and by this time the French despatch riders were also using
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Albert
Simpkin - edited by David Venner. "Despatch Rider on the Western Front 1915–1918: The Diary of Sergeant Albert Simpkin MM"
52:(or dispatch) is a military messenger, mounted on horse or motorcycle (and occasionally in Egypt during World War I, on camels).
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In August 1914 it was reported that the despatch riders for the
Belgian and Russian armies were equipped exclusively with
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273:(Y-stations) by despatch rider, but this was later switched to teleprinter transmission.
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The US Army entered the war in 1917, and their messengers were equipped principally with
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in 1914 for despatch rider duties, and many unsuccessful applicants were accepted by
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motorcycles by the later stages of the war (they also included female riders).
99:(WRAF) despatch rider on a tea break, seated on her P&M 500cc single, 1918.
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During World War II despatch riders were often referred to as Don Rs (from
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The German army reintroduced despatch riders in 2019, equipped with the
391:"A Visit to an RAF Reception Depot", The Motor Cycle, 18 July 1918, p50
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A spare 'cover' to be carried by signal units for each machine (a tyre)
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Adventures of a
Motorcycle Despatch Rider During the First World War
418:"With our fighting forces", The Motor Cycle, 10 September 1914, p334
370:"Despatch Riders on Camels", The Motor Cycle, 12 October 1916, p320
107:, motorcycle despatch riders were first used in World War I by the
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A despatch rider delivers a message to the signals office of 1st
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The contemporary despatch rider model of the German army is the
400:"The Home of the F.N.", The Motor Cycle, 13 August 1914, p225
382:"Military Motor Cycle Notes", The Motor Cycle, 13 August 1914
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British military motorcycle dispatch rider, 1914 World War I.
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were limited and insecure. They were also used to deliver
451:"Der Melder kommt zurück - Kradmelder bei der Bundeswehr"
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was formed from their number. They were also used by the
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San Fairy Ann? Motorcycles and
British Victory 1914–1918
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In the UK 'despatch rider' is also a term used for a
353:- Composer and Despatch Rider (French 8th Division)
115:One valve complete with spring, washer and cotter
124:A tyre repair outfit including spares for valve
133:Spare link and a spare chain (if chain-driven)
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155:Recruitment was not just for the army; the
269:initially received transmissions from the
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130:A spare belt and fastener (if belt driven)
429:"WW2 People's War: The Story of a Don R."
175:RAF (formerly the RFC) exclusively used
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409:The Motor Cycle, 7 December 1916, p498
249:soldiers carried out the role and the
136:Complete set of spares for the magneto
251:Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team
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552:Military command staff occupations
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276:The British military often used
109:Royal Engineers Signal Service
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139:Selection of nuts and washers
517:. Brighton: FireStep Press.
228:An Indian dispatch rider in
148:Two gaiters for tyre repairs
513:Carragher, Michael (2013).
263:Women's Royal Naval Service
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44:, France, 13 October 1939
483:Commando Despatch Rider
333:Charles Kingsford Smith
97:Women's Royal Air Force
557:Motorcycle occupations
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247:Royal Corps of Signals
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159:in Chatham bought 50
145:Complete set of tools
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431:BBC. 15 October 2014
562:Combat occupations
467:W. H. L. Watson.
345:Bessie Stringfield
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271:listening stations
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64:telecommunications
57:motorcycle courier
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27:Military messenger
524:978-1-908487-38-4
481:Raymond Mitchell
477:978-1-84685-046-2
462:Memoirs of riders
243:phonetic spelling
189:F.N. motor cycles
118:One sparking plug
16:(Redirected from
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347:- Motorcyclist
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267:Bletchley Park
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203:and Triumphs.
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304:Contemporary
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127:A spare tube
105:British Army
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351:Jehan Alain
74:World War I
541:Categories
358:References
321:BMW F850GS
314:BMW F850GS
298:Norton 16H
259:Royal Navy
335:- Aviator
300:models).
290:Matchless
157:Admiralty
257:and the
169:O.H.M.S.
161:Triumphs
278:Triumph
219:Mausers
197:Douglas
193:Enfield
177:P&M
103:In the
42:Orchies
521:
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435:19 May
282:Norton
230:Cyprus
208:Indian
294:Ariel
519:ISBN
497:ISBN
487:ISBN
473:ISBN
437:2018
292:and
210:and
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