RE350WD/CO Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 There are a number of examples of motorcycles being deployed by the Royal Signals for Despatch Riders, but what other uses were they put to? For example, were they used for escort/convoy duty? Would the riders still have had the same uniform/equipment? My grandfather was in the Herts Yeomanry, RA(attached to the 2nd Army, 50th Division in June 1944). I'd like to pay tribute by bearing the insignia on my battledress, rather than the Royal Signals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 (edited) Absolutely! A DR (Despatch rider) (or is it Dispatch??) was part of a signals unit and would have worn the winged wheel patch on his left forearm with the initials DR and the white over blue arm bands that gave him priority over other traffic. But I would guess far more motorcyclists where busy with all other units Armour/Infantry/artillery/REME etc etc. These bloke would have been on convoy and traffic control as well as 101 other duties. Their winged wheel patch would have born the initials MC (motorcyclist) . Nice touch to get your bike/uniform into your old Granddads unit markings. Ron Edited July 2, 2013 by Ron Spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No Signals Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 As Ron say, lots of other duties in most arms of the service. A late friend of mine was an artillery sergeant, I have done my machine and kit based on a wartime photo of him that he showed me. He spent his time blatting up and down the convoys of vehicles keeping them together when on they were on the move. The photo showed him wearing complete standard army BD kit and boots etc - no DonR stuff except for the DR helmet . Not the standard tin helmet, but he told me he had one of these as well. Leather jerkin with webbing over it. Pistol on his L/H side and pistol ammo pouch on the right, one larger pouch visible behind on the right, which by its position must have been of the MT type. He carried a DR long waterproof coat on his bike carrier. He said he had used both the large, chest mounted, respirator and later got hold of a smaller one that he had on the back of his belt on the left. This was just one squaddies 'take' on the kit. When I quizzed him about the various bits of kit he just grinned and said that before the war he was a sales manger and he knew how to get anything ! :-) He said his BD was a Canadian one as these were considered better than the British ones and were much coveted! No idea what he traded to get it. If you look at the various photos on the web you will see all sorts of variations on kit and equipment including Brits wearing US and Canadian stuff and Yanks wearing British BD! I imagine kit was a very flexible thing particularly nearer the front, and blokes wore what they could get and what worked for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big ray Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 During my service in mid 1950s (Germany, REME Armd Wksps) when ever we went on schemes I was the only motorcycle rider in the workshops. I did convoy control, both for our own workshops and some times seconded to to HQ Bunde, 6 Armd Division. The M20 that I am sitting on now belongs to our son, but when I restored it, I did the markings representing my old workshops. I used to ride M20s or Matchless G3Ls......... nice old bikes, I enjoyed it then, and I still enjoy it now. I still have 3 motorcycles, 2 Royal Enfields and a Harley Davidson WLC, so I still get the occasional ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RE350WD/CO Posted July 2, 2013 Author Share Posted July 2, 2013 Thanks All. I've got 95% of the equipment you describe No Signals, so happy with that. I would be great if you could share any photos esp of how the insignia is laid out on the BD. My brother has just returned from Normandy and he brought me, along with a bottle of Calvados , some insignia. He made some notes of how he thought is should be laid out (see photo). Are the 50th Inf Div and 2nd Army on opposing arms? Any more guidance gratefully received. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RE350WD/CO Posted July 2, 2013 Author Share Posted July 2, 2013 I should add, I have the 2nd Army insignia on the tank of my WD/CO but have seen the 50th Inf Div insignia more commonly on bikes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agmerlin Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Fascinating stuff! Id love to see the photo that No Signals mentioned. I know my uncle rode bikes in WWII but I don't think he was a proper "DR" his diaries mentioned convoy duties and he also acted as a mechanic on all sorts of vehicles. I still have his battle dress jacket which has combined ops patches amongst other things and I was wondering if it would be appropriate to have the combined ops badge on the tank of the 3HW andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 We need to wait for Steve (WDBIKEMAD) to respond. He should give you chapter and verse regarding uniforms and insignia. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No Signals Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Fascinating stuff! Id love to see the photo that No Signals mentioned. I know my uncle rode bikes in WWII but I don't think he was a proper "DR" his diaries mentioned convoy duties and he also acted as a mechanic on all sorts of vehicles. I still have his battle dress jacket which has combined ops patches amongst other things and I was wondering if it would be appropriate to have the combined ops badge on the tank of the 3HW andy I'd love to be able to post it as well, but I'm afraid I don't have it. The chap had quite a few photos from the war, some of them he spoke about but I never got to see them. Some others I did. Since he passed away his family have shunned all his old friends and neighbours and I suspect the photos have been binned. People react to bereavement in different ways, but I still find some things difficult to understand.As for the combined ops badge on the tank I would have to look that up. In theory some insignia that appeared on other vehicles were not expected to be applied to motorcycle tanks. These days we tend to like to see them though so most owners exercise a bit of artistic licence and put them on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RE350WD/CO Posted July 3, 2013 Author Share Posted July 3, 2013 These days we tend to like to see them though so most owners exercise a bit of artistic licence and put them on. I think I fall into this camp.:-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Yep! It's your bike. Do what you want I say. All the better if you pay respect to a family member or friend. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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