Boer cyclist

[Rob Miller]

This appears to be an original print possibly from a book, so I guess its long out of copyright.

I bought it for the bicycle more than anything else, but it started me wondering if every unit in the Boer war would have used cyclist Dispatch riders?

[QSAMIKE]

Hello Rob......

The badge at the bottom is: Cape Colony Cyclist Corps

Mike

[Rob Miller]

Hi Mike

Thats a lovely badge

Rob.

[Arthur R]

Some of the volunteer regiments, such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Own Volunteer Rifles (as shown in the picture) had their own cycle sections. Apparently, cycling was a very popular (and still fairly new) sport at the Cape in the 1890s, so there were plenty of enthusiasts around.

There's a photo of the DEOVR cycle section riding on tandems which have been welded together side by side to fit on a railway track. This photo appears in a number of books, but is seldom captioned correctly - it's usually captioned as being Australian troops, probably because the DEOVR wore smasher hats, which tend to be associated with Oz.

The Cape Colony Cyclist Corps was one of several units formed in response to Gen Hertzog's invasion in December 1900. My impression is that it was a combat unit rather than despatch riders - they simply used their bikes for transport in muh the same way that mounted rifles used horses.

[Peter Brydon]

Not only in South Africa, a lot of the volunteer units in this country had cyclist sections or indeed companies.
P.B.

[Frank Kelley]

The Cape Colony Cyclist Corps was actually, a quite large SAMIF unit, whilst it had officially been raised as Class D1 Corps, under the direct control of the GOC Cape Colony, for service only in that Colony, some of it's number did serve beyond the border until Vereeniging.
At the point of it's inception, in Cape Town, on the 27th of December 1900, it's strength was four Companies.
Formal disbandment came on the 30th of June 1902 at Middleburg.

Originally Posted by Arthur R

Some of the volunteer regiments, such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Own Volunteer Rifles (as shown in the picture) had their own cycle sections. Apparently, cycling was a very popular (and still fairly new) sport at the Cape in the 1890s, so there were plenty of enthusiasts around.

There's a photo of the DEOVR cycle section riding on tandems which have been welded together side by side to fit on a railway track. This photo appears in a number of books, but is seldom captioned correctly - it's usually captioned as being Australian troops, probably because the DEOVR wore smasher hats, which tend to be associated with Oz.

The Cape Colony Cyclist Corps was one of several units formed in response to Gen Hertzog's invasion in December 1900. My impression is that it was a combat unit rather than despatch riders - they simply used their bikes for transport in muh the same way that mounted rifles used horses.

[Postwarden]

Further to Peter's post herewith the Cyclist Section of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.

Jon

[Frank Kelley]

Not every unit, but, there was certainly no bicycle shortage during the Anglo Boer War, for example, in the Cape Colony alone, once the declaration of martial law had been made, a great many were requisitioned, after the enemies capitals were occupied, the former republic's were subject to new administration and more still were simply confiscated.

In the British Army, the City Imperial Volunteers, for example, were very keen on bicycles, but, quite frankly, I would prefer the reassurance of four hooves.

Originally Posted by Rob Miller

This appears to be an original print possibly from a book, so I guess its long out of copyright.

I bought it for the bicycle more than anything else, but it started me wondering if every unit in the Boer war would have used cyclist Dispatch riders?

[Mercian]

Not forgetting the English Composite Cyclist Corps, a little heard of corps in the Boer War.

[Longdog]

Have really enjoyed reading this thread as I am very interested in this subject.

Would like to post photos of this Boer War period title as I have been unable to identify and had wondered if it may be cyclist related.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Hope this is of interest.

Pat