WWII British Female Dispatch Riders, 1942

WWII British Female Dispatch Riders, 1942

British women dispatch riders. South African girls who went to England to join the "First Aid and Nursing Yeomanry" learn stunt riding to give them balance and confidence in handling their machines. A dispatch is a military messenger, mounted on horse or motorcycle. In the UK 'despatch rider' is the most common term used for a motorcycle courier. Dispatch riders were used by armed forces to deliver urgent orders and messages between headquarters and military units. In WWII, Royal Corps of Signals soldiers carried out the role and the Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team was formed from their number. They were also used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy, where they maintained contact with land bases and some of the riders were members of the Women's Royal Naval Service. The British military often used Triumph, Norton, BSA, Matchless and Ariel for despatch riders, and although radio communications were much more advanced during WWII than WWI - huge numbers were produced. Photographed by the United States Office of War Information, Overseas Picture Division, 1942.

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4350 x 3152 px | 39.2 MB

36.8 x 26.7 cm | 14.5 x 10.5 in (300 dpi)