FlashBack....Previous and Newest British Motorcycle Dipatch Riders (1 Viewer)

[PanzerAce1944]

Thought it would be interesting to look at both Dispatch Riders together.

 

[waynepoo]

Thought it would be interesting to look at both Dispatch Riders together.

Very nice aren't they and the problem with doing it again with the R.A.F is? smart practice to do repaints like this, now we need a Royal Navy dispatch rider......
Thanks PA.
Wayne.

 

[uksubs]

Thought it would be interesting to look at both Dispatch Riders together.

Very nice , lucky to have the DDay version

 

[PanzerAce1944]

Very nice aren't they and the problem with doing it again with the R.A.F is? smart practice to do repaints like this, now we need a Royal Navy dispatch rider......
Thanks PA.
Wayne.

Cheers Wayne, You may never know ? Had some formatting issues with the smaller pic, but it will work for now :wink2:

 

[Rob]

Both are excellent PA and I very much welcome the new version. I think I'll have the both enjoying a ciggy together as they take a break. Must have been a pretty hectic job in those days, no mobile oboes, pc's, in those days. Backwards and forwards across cities and countryside in all weathers. Can't wait to get this new version and nice idea from Wayne.


Rob

 

[Mitch]

I think a bit more interesting than the fact that there are two brit versions now of this motorcycle is the fact that 126,000 saw active servive and, remained in use with the armed forces until the 1960's. Made in Small Heath in Birmingham the military nearly failed it on the grounds of excessive engine ware in 1938. 469cc and 13 BHP (I think my lawn mower is more powerful!!!) production was stopped there after 19th November 1940 when a kindly visit from fat hermann's boys destroyed the factory killing 53 and injuring 89.

it managed at top speed on the Bonneville salt flats of 108mph which, I am sure the dispatch riders would have gladly had doing the job they had to. In 1995 at RAF Elvington air museum one a souped up version managed 112mph so, one can see how well these things were made. Many still in use today with collectors and other bike and war buffs overall a great little motor bike.

Would be hard pushed to say which one looks better another part of the service that does not really get the mention or praise they deserve... the dispatch riders
Mitch

 

[PanzerAce1944]

I guess the intent of posting this thread was to see if one version was favored more than the other. I personally like the RAF version more, but they are both some nice
sets.

 

[Rob]

I think a bit more interesting than the fact that there are two brit versions now of this motorcycle is the fact that 126,000 saw active servive and, remained in use with the armed forces until the 1960's. Made in Small Heath in Birmingham the military nearly failed it on the grounds of excessive engine ware in 1938. 469cc and 13 BHP (I think my lawn mower is more powerful!!!) production was stopped there after 19th November 1940 when a kindly visit from fat hermann's boys destroyed the factory killing 53 and injuring 89.

it managed at top speed on the Bonneville salt flats of 108mph which, I am sure the dispatch riders would have gladly had doing the job they had to. In 1995 at RAF Elvington air museum one a souped up version managed 112mph so, one can see how well these things were made. Many still in use today with collectors and other bike and war buffs overall a great little motor bike.

Would be hard pushed to say which one looks better another part of the service that does not really get the mention or praise they deserve... the dispatch riders
Mitch

I agree. Not only did they do great work on the battle front but on the home front too they carried vital messages in all weathers, sometimes in the blackout or during air raids to HQ's, Airfields, Docks etc. I like the fact that K&C give us other branches of civil or military organizations such as ARP Wardens, Home Guard, Police, WAAF's and now Dispatch riders too. All these were vital to the War effort and its great to see them represented alongside the Soldiers and Airmen we see.

{bravo}}

Rob

 

[Mitch]

Rob...

Your right and, I remember a few years back one of Churchill's riders was awarded some honour or, special medal cannot remember exactly for taking top secret documents back and forth and, took the surrender message of the german army to the King from Churchill.

He joked that he loved flying through London on his motorcycle but, said it could be a bit hairy in the blackout!!!! I love the understatement of these blokes
Mitch

 

[Rob]

Rob...

Your right and, I remember a few years back one of Churchill's riders was awarded some honour or, special medal cannot remember exactly for taking top secret documents back and forth and, took the surrender message of the german army to the King from Churchill.

He joked that he loved flying through London on his motorcycle but, said it could be a bit hairy in the blackout!!!! I love the understatement of these blokes
Mitch

Yes classic understatement indeed Mitch, shrapnel raining down and it was ' Hairy' !

Different breed of people in those days. It reminds me of a Titanic docu I saw during the anniversary earlier this year. They read a statement from a chap who survived the sinking , he described how he stood at the ships rail and watched as the last lifeboat was launched without them. He said ' It was a disagreeable sight' !!{eek3}{eek3} A 'disagreeable' sight, can you imagine that statement today without half a dozen F words?!

Rob

 

[PanzerAce1944]

Yes classic understatement indeed Mitch, shrapnel raining down and it was ' Hairy' !

Different breed of people in those days. It reminds me of a Titanic docu I saw during the anniversary earlier this year. They read a statement from a chap who survived the sinking , he described how he stood at the ships rail and watched as the last lifeboat was launched without them. He said ' It was a disagreeable sight' !!{eek3}{eek3} A 'disagreeable' sight, can you imagine that statement today without half a dozen F words?!

Rob

Last year somewhere in the forum I mentioned the fact that one of my grandfathers was a U.S. G.I. that landed at Normandy D-Day +2 while the other was a German
Wehrmacht Motorcycle dipatch rider. When I was young I remember the Normandy Grandpa talk about how he was attached to an officer and he was told to go ahead
to the front lines and fight and replied.......No Captain I am suppose to stay with you.....{sm3} While the MC rider grandfather seemed to enjoy his work riding his BMW
bike relaying messages.One of his statements I remember was at a Czech farm house where the Germans showed up and demanded that the woman make them coffee.
The Russians soon showed up and there were soon dead bodies everywhere around the womans farm.He surrendered to the Americans in 1944 as he felt he was fighting
for as he put it "crazyness". He clearly loved riding that bike though !

 

[Mitch]

Rob...

A classic english understatement probably not the first thought that would spring to mind when the boat you are on is sinking all the lifeboats are rowing away from it and the water is freezing!!!!

Its that era that will never be replicated. I watched Dads Army yesterday and, I love the bit when mainwaring and Wilson are discussing that the germans will never get through the maginot line and wilson replies they went around it sir and, mainwaring says '' a typical shabby nazi trick'' Classic, the whole thing of playing by the rules and being thoroughly proper in conduct produced not only great men but, as you say classic one liners

Anyway I have been looking for some books on Dons R from WWII as this has sparked a bit of interest in a subject I have not really looked at in detail
Mitch

 

[Rob]

Last year somewhere in the forum I mentioned the fact that one of my grandfathers was a U.S. G.I. that landed at Normandy D-Day +2 while the other was a German
Wehrmacht Motorcycle dipatch rider. When I was young I remember the Normandy Grandpa talk about how he was attached to an officer and he was told to go ahead
to the front lines and fight and replied.......No Captain I am suppose to stay with you.....{sm3} While the MC rider grandfather seemed to enjoy his work riding his BMW
bike relaying messages.One of his statements I remember was at a Czech farm house where the Germans showed up and demanded that the woman make them coffee.
The Russians soon showed up and there were soon dead bodies everywhere around the womans farm.He surrendered to the Americans in 1944 as he felt he was fighting
for as he put it "crazyness". He clearly loved riding that bike though !

Nice story PA, family members on both sides.

Rob...

A classic english understatement probably not the first thought that would spring to mind when the boat you are on is sinking all the lifeboats are rowing away from it and the water is freezing!!!!

Its that era that will never be replicated. I watched Dads Army yesterday and, I love the bit when mainwaring and Wilson are discussing that the germans will never get through the maginot line and wilson replies they went around it sir and, mainwaring says '' a typical shabby nazi trick'' Classic, the whole thing of playing by the rules and being thoroughly proper in conduct produced not only great men but, as you say classic one liners

Anyway I have been looking for some books on Dons R from WWII as this has sparked a bit of interest in a subject I have not really looked at in detail
Mitch

^&grin

Mitch, somehow still my favorite comedy of them all, just brilliant. The interplay between Wilson and Mainwaring is classic example of character writing. As it gently mocks the British class system perfectly its a delight to watch. I just love that scene where as normal Jones is one step behind the others in his drill. Wilson says ' Jones, Jonesy, do you think you could possibly get your legs together '? to which Mainwaring replies ' What do you mean get your legs together, you're supposed to be a Sgt not a headmistress of a girls school'!!^&grin^&grin

Rob

 

[PanzerAce1944]

Thanks Rob, I have WWII European Theater of Operations in My "BLOOD" :smile2:

 

[Rob]

Thanks Rob, I have WWII European Theater of Operations in My "BLOOD" :smile2:

I hear you on that one PA:salute::

There is just something about D Day that hooks you isn't it, something about the Brits/US/Commonwealth returning to to Normandy to clean up the Nazi sewage burst across Europe. {bravo}}

Rob

 

[Bayern]

I hear you on that one PA:salute::

There is just something about D Day that hooks you isn't it, something about the Brits/US/Commonwealth returning to to Normandy to clean up the Nazi sewage burst across Europe. {bravo}}

Rob

I have gotten the DDAY fever with the landing boat, Sherman tank and soldiers I have thus far. I am going to venture to say that DDAY must be the most popular KC line as there is so little around for sale. The secondary market is wiped clean except for twice the price or more. I like it and I am dabbling in it thus far!!!


Ludwig