NZ Prime Minister William Massey and NZ Deputy Prime Minister Joseph Ward inspect the New Zealand Cyclist Corps at Oissy in northern France, 3 July 1918. Alexander Turnbull Library – 1/2-013358-G.
It is easy to forget that although the internal combustion engine was first conceived in 1884, in 1914 the vehicles that used it were still unreliable and unsuitable for off road work. A British infantry division would have around 11 cars, 4 lorries, 19 motorcycles and 5,592 horses. Horses, however, were loud and required a huge amount of logistical support; everything from food to veterinary care.
The New Zealand Cyclist Corps was envisioned as a mounted infantry unit that could move around a battlefield quickly and quietly. The bicycle was soon discovered to be unsuitable and ineffective in the terrain of the Western Front for combat. Instead, it was used for reconnaissance and communication tasks. The Corps had three companies in WWI, serving exclusively on the Western Front, before it was disbanded in May 1919.
This badge in our collection is a ‘1st Design’. It has a front-view of a winged bicycle (handle bars and front wheel) with “NZ Cyclist Company” written across the scrolls.
Want to hear about a WWI soldier awarded the Military Medal for bravery that was fined for being a cyclist without a bike?
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