Delivering the message

Discussion in 'General' started by jacobtowne, Nov 9, 2006.

  1. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

  2. rewdco

    rewdco Senior Member

    Early in the conflict Despatch Riders (Don-R's) mounted on motorbikes delivering messages seemed to be a common iconic image. Here are a few examples from around the world. Does anyone have any others lurking in dusty books?



    [​IMG]



    Here's one from the IWM site :-

    [​IMG]

    The census number is from a batch issued to impressed civilian vehicles. The bike looks to be a Royal Enfield Model C which was later purchased in largish numbers as the WD/C for just this type of duty. R.E.s were often photographed with female riders who featured frequently in the factory's advertising. These small side-valves were underpowered for hard use and had limited off-road capability.

    I just came across this thread, and I think I can add some more information on the two pictures above.

    The first one shows a Royal Enfield WD/C, used by the French Army. In early 1940, France had ordered 13.000 motorcycles from various British manufacturers, because their own industry couldn't deliver despatch rider motorcycles fast enough... In this order there were two WD/C contracts for 900 motorcycles each. Only a few hundred of these bikes had been delivered before the fall of France in May 1940. The picture shows one of the WD/C's that made it to France before May 1940.

    The second picture is an impressed Royal Enfield model D (250cc SV).

    Jan
     

Share This Page