Nov 01, 2007 yet despite the odds stacked against them, dispatch riders held no rank and were rarely acknowledged for their important role in the war. Bomber command provided a longrange strike force capable of targeting the enemy at home. By the outbreak of world war two, most raf squadrons had modern equipment, the breathing space given by the munich agreement having given time for the introduction of vital hurricanes and spitfires into fighter command squadrons. British ww2 era motorcyclist pantaloons pants dispatch rider motorcycle. Ww2 1943 dispatch riders jacket trousers and helme. Ww2 dated 1945 british dispatch riders helmet nice condition. An original pair of 1942 dated size 2 dispatch riders high anklets, these are,matching pairs with leather straps and buckles, they are in excellent unissued condition with minor storage marks etc. Information during both world wars was on a needtoknow basis, leaving dispatch riders in the dark as to what each message contained. He transferred to the rfc as an observer when the need for dispatch riders reduced and later train ed as a pilot gaining raec certificate no 2543 on 9 may. During world war ii, pilots of the raf distinguished themselves in the battle of britain and conducted a strategic bombing campaign on germany. Tim bateson from preston, seated on a russian motorcycles ural. He worked on movies such as stanley kubricks dr strangelove and went on to achieve a knighthood, two oscars and many bafta awards. Breast of man overjacket 41ins to 43ins sold out size 10 height of man 511 to 60.
Harry watts the dispatch rider motorcycles in the war. Buy world war ii goggles and get the best deals at the lowest prices on ebay. How motorcycle despatch riders helped win world war one british. A despatch rider or dispatch is a military messenger, mounted on horse or motorcycle and occasionally in egypt during world war i, on camels. The german officer jumped back in the armoured car and it roared off, leaving my dad on. Jun 04, 2014 chaos of dday revealed in newly released photographs taken from raf reconnaissance planes that flew over the beaches as allies fought their way ashore. Ww2 rubberized motorcyclists coat dispatch rider genuine nos. Ww2 british army bd battledress 1940 pattern large size 18, 1945. The matilda formed a major part of the british armored forces during the desert battles against the german afrika corps. The markings show the raf serial number raf157684 on the right picture on the front fender with the unit marking underneath.
Post ww2 british army dispatch riders sd pantaloons motor cyclists trous. Despatch riders were used by armed forces to deliver urgent orders and messages between headquarters and military units. Both pictures show dispatch riders of the 83rd group, 2nd tactical air force raf. 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. Dispatch riders were issued a special pair of boots and breeches to ride motorbikes during ww2. Mcdowell of the 48th highlanders of canada delivering a message to the battalions advanced headquarters, regalbuto, italy, august 4, 1943 le soldat et estafette h. German soldiers ww2, german army, military personnel, military vehicles, cycle. Made in 1940s by victory garment manfacturers government contractors. The former royal air force germany rafg was a command of the royal air force and part of british forces germany. A dispatch rider with the 2nd canadian infantry division wrestles his motorcycle. My understanding is, that only royal signals had dispatchriders as a job.
My father was a motorcycle dispatch rider at this time and his unit was. If you got a suitable sidecar for sale in any condition please mail me. New listing ww2 bmb 1945 dated size 7 dispatch riders helmet in superb condition. Dispatch riders were used by armed forces to deliver urgent orders and messages between headquarters and military units. For riders, enlistment as a dispatcher lasted a year, or however long the war lasted. Motorbike dispatch riders the unsung heroes of two world wars. If, like minnie driver, you have raf kin who served during the second world war, there are plenty of records for you to discover as phil tomaselli explains more than 1. Most famous, perhaps, for the epic defence of the battle of britain and bomber commands long assault. In world war ii, royal corps of signals soldiers carried out the role and the royal signals motorcycle. Norton 16h instructional footage wwii for dispatch riders youtube. I love it and have good history from the brothers who owned it after the war ended. Matchless g3l british army dispatch riders motorcycle 1940 british second world war bsa military motorcycle 1945 m20. Top secret messages could bring dispatch riders right to the front lines. Fighter command provided support for the bombers and defense for the homeland.
Norton 16h instructional footage wwii for dispatch riders. The boots were a high leg and had 3 metal buckles on top plus a reinforced leather toe for protection. I have said they are ww2 was of the dressing pocket, but im not recognising the pattern. In wwii, royal corps of signals soldiers carried out the role and the royal signals motorcycle display team was formed from their british women dispatch riders. Dispatch rider for sale in uk 36 used dispatch riders. Ww2 british battledress 1940 pattern dispatch rider 30 corps royal signals. The raf, on the other hand, were geared toward acting independently from the army. Mar 10, 2012 fleet of old motorcycles indian 101, 1940 wwii bmw r12,r35,1936 knucklehead, 1915 hd, 1930 four, duration. German soldiers ww2, german army, military personnel, military vehicles, cycle pictures, world conflicts, germany ww2, motorcycle types, german uniforms. In september 1939, the raf had 10,208 aircraft in service, approximately 3,500 being in operational units. Ww2 british raf walking out dress uniform pants trousers. 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 book is illustrated with priceless photographs of the men and women who served as drivers and dispatch riders for the military and the vad nursing services. Africa, western desert, ww2 by cecil beaton pin by paolo.
Original ww2 british army dispatch riders high leg gaiters. It consisted of units located in germany, initially as part of the occupation following the second world war, and later as part of the rafs commitment to the defence of europe during the cold war. Sir ken adam, who is now 88, served with the royal air force raf but was born with the name klaus adam, and after that was keith adam before ending up as ken adam. World war ii, or the second world war often abbreviated as wwii or ww2, was a global conflict that was underway by 1939 and ended in 1945. Royal air force, youngest of the three british armed services, charged with the air defense of the united kingdom and the fulfillment of international defense commitments. At age 19, having completed basic training at fort william, now known as thunder bay, harry watts official position with the canadian armoured corps initially began as trooper.
After the war, the germans managed to trace dispatch rider s. Sad find in a german helmet big german ww2 dump hole relics cleaning. The matilda was designed as an infantry support tank. Volunteering for service as a dispatch rider on 6 august 1914, he was made a corporal in the royal engineers and posted immediately to france, being awarded a commission within seven weeks. The infantry mkii, which retained the basic shape of the helmets worn during the first world war, was utterly impractical for a paratrooper and soon a variety of training helmetsmostly made of rubber or padded. The extent of dday chaos has been revealed in these newly released photographs taken from the raf reconnaissance planes that flew over the normandy beaches as allied troops fought their way ashore. 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. Second world war raf ancestors who do you think you are. Chaos of dday revealed in newly released photographs taken from raf reconnaissance planes that flew over the beaches as allies fought their way ashore.
The german butterfly bomb was a highly effective twokilogram. See more ideas about wwii, world war and world war two. Dispatch riders coat 1942pick up britains deetail german army dispatch rider motorcycle. Im thinking of fitting a sidecar with the hope it will deter bike thieves from stealing it. During 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. Ww2 peoples war dispatch rider bef fall of france bbc. Yet despite the odds stacked against them, dispatch riders held no rank and were rarely acknowledged for their important role in the war.
Most famous, perhaps, for the epic defence of the battle of britain and bomber commands long assault on germany, units of the raf fought in all theatres of the war. He was a dispatch rider serving with the royal corps of signals of which he. By 1940, all of the british navys dispatch riders were women. 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. In the british army, motorcycle despatch riders were first used in the world war i by the royal engineers signal service. The wreckage of an raf bomber shot down during world war two has been discovered thanks to a german soldiers photos of the crash site. Fleet of old motorcycles indian 101, 1940 wwii bmw r12,r35,1936 knucklehead, 1915 hd, 1930 four, duration. The success of the german paratroopers early in wwii inspired the british army to form their own airborne units. In the uk despatch rider is also a term used for a motorcycle courier.
It involved most of the worlds nationsincluding all of the great powerseventually forming two opposing military alliances. Tangier is currently in the kingdom of morocco, but during ww2 and many. Breast of man overjacket 43ins to 44inssold out size 9 height of man 511 to 60. German soldier riding a motorcycle in the snow of the eastern front in. Motorbike dispatch riders the unsung heroes of two world. Excellent british bsa matchless dispatch riders pantaloons trousers. Airborne, dispatch rider and tank crews the success of the german paratroopers early in wwii inspired the british army to form their own airborne units. He was the only serviceman of german origin to have served with the raf during world war two.
Jul 23, 2015 riders had to deliver the message via the most direct route, in the shortest possible time. Somewhat against my wish, i was put on the army officers reserve list and it was. How motorcycle despatch riders helped win world war one. A despatch rider or dispatch is a military messenger, mounted on horse or motorcycle in the. Various shots of the canadian despatch riders being filmed by army cameramen probably for canadian. British army dispatch rider on a bsa m20 motorcycle, date unknown. Call of duty wwii cod world war 2 ps4 mint same day dispatch fast delivery most items are dispatched on the same day if ordered before 1pm. The commander of rafg doubled as commander of natos second allied tactical air force. The meaning of the letter m has not been determined. John charlwood of the royal canadian army service corps hit a rut and. Ww2 british army bd battledress 1940 pattern large size 18, 1945 read notes. Tim is a reenactor wearing the costume of a german major soldier at lytham 1940s wartime festival held on lytham green, lancashire, uk. Other arms like ra rmp and rasc had motorcyclists as a trade, for example, the rasc ones were used for convoy control and rmp motorcyclists were used in movement control. Unfollow motorcycle ww2 to stop getting updates on your ebay feed.
Great savings free delivery collection on many items. It was immediately clear that a new type of helmet would be needed. Wonder if anyone can guide me to a website or some source for gathering infopictures on raf dispatch riders of wwii. The female dispatch motorcycle riders of world war ii motorcyclist.
Bbc ww2 peoples war dispatch rider bef fall of france. Joined up in 5th november 1942, demobbed 23rd march 1946. Enlistment did not fall under the jurisdiction of conscription. Dispatch riders well what types or bikes were used. While in the military the riders were paid 35 shillings per week the equivalent of. I have restored a 1940 m20 which was parked up in an old shed for 40 years after it had caught fire. 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. 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. Dispatch riders dr boots by gse soldier of fortune military.