Cyclists Battalions

Pross

I recently noticed a memorial outside Cardiff City Hall to a Cyclist Battalion and further research shows these were fairly common in the Great War. Does anyone know much about them that can enlighten me on their role and any battles they played a part in? Also, are there any books out there on this subject that are worth a read?

rf6

It sounds like one of the "friends battalions" that were recruited during the war. The idea was that by keeping people who knew each other together, they would volunteer more readily. There were lots of people from places of work, towns etc that formed these battalions.

downfader

There was a thing on the telly about them a year or so back on the Beeb. They were issued uprights, dynamo lights and a kit bag on the back I think. I dont know if they ever fought on the bike, I'll bet one of the the Military Museums has a load of info on them. Youtube also had some vids, as did the Pathe news website.

bagpusscp

I know of someone who is doing research on this at the moment.As far as i know there is no one publication covering this subject.I have various bits of information from old mags of the time and some pictures.I can supply if you are interested.
Information also here;
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?

tebbit

A British Infantry division in 1915 had a company of cyclists as part if its mounted component, one of the duties of these companies was to provide a rapidly deployable reserve force, each division had one squadron of cavalry and a company of cyclists.

Pross

rf6 wrote:

It sounds like one of the "friends battalions" that were recruited during the war. The idea was that by keeping people who knew each other together, they would volunteer more readily. There were lots of people from places of work, towns etc that formed these battalions.

That's what I assumed originally but from the bit I have managed to read so far they were set up in the late 19th century to make use of the new fangled bike as a quiter means of transport for recon work, it also meant reduced logistical problems as no need to carry forage as you would with a horse.

priory

there were thousands of cycle troops on both sides in the first world war.
I was told that the reason you do not salute an officer while he is riding a bike is that the prince of wales was once riding his company past the king, saluted and fell off to general hilar... embarrassment. I don't know the truth of that.
If you google it you will find lots

I have seen a newsreel of German troops entering Poland with hundreds of cyclists being pulled along on long ropes behind motor trucks.

the first famous raid by British paras on the radar station at Brunevalle used folding bikes in the approach from the drop zone.

The japs in Malaya made fast progress down to Singapore on thousands of increasingly dilapidated bikes which as they rattled along are supposed to have frightened advanced op's who thought they were tanks.

The swiss had large bicycle formations , some regular, mostly territorials until the 1990's when they re-equipped them and sold off the bikes . I have always regretted not buying one. they went for not much and looked terrific, but heaven knows what I would have done with it. Mounted it on a display stand in the garden perhaps, like a spit at a raf base. They weighed a lot, a lot.