Despatch Riders WW1

[IMBER]

The involvement of civilian motor cycle volunteers as recorded on fag packets seems to relate to Air Raid Precautions in the UK in 1938 and so cannot have much relevance to Salonika in the Great War.  What IS significant is this account which you can read online:

http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=1505880&pageno=1

A quite fascinating first hand account which I look forward to reading in its entirety. However, of more immediate interest is the fact that the writer volunteered on the outbreak of war, bought his own motor bike and was immediately enlisted as a Corporal in the Royal Engineers.

I would have thought you might also find out more by approaching the following:

http://royalsignalsmuseum.co.uk/WebSite/index.php/royal-signals-history/2011-10-26-23-11-03/corps-history

The writer of the book mentioned above first reported to the RE at Chatham and they are still represented there today:

http://www.re-museum.co.uk/

Hope that helps.

Imber

[Colin Cruddace]

Imber, thank you very much for that link to the personal account of a despatch rider. It is an intriguing story and gives a very personal view of the war. I've not read it all yet, but I certainly will.

Colin

[vintagesunbeam]

I've been researching the 1914 Royal Engineers motorcycle despatch riders for some time now, in particular the members of 5th Signals Company to which Willie Watson (who wrote Adventures of a Despatch Rider) belonged.

All the despatch riders were volunteers who joined the Army on the outbreak of war. They were anxious to get to France because the rumour was that the war would be all over by Christmas. But they were not 'casuals' - all of them were properly recruited, promoted to Corporal, and were fully part of the military - a fact which humbled Watson and others who, as "amateurs" had great respect for the professional soldiers they served with. Many of them had relevant training (Officer Training Corps, etc) and were commissioned into other units within weeks of joining up.

I'm sure that your uncle will have a Medal Card (WO 372) and possibly, if he became an officer, a service record (WO 339) - try searching in The National Archives Discovery catalogue using these references. If in difficulty I'd be happy to look him up on Ancestry for you, just need his full name and date of birth.

[Colin Cruddace]

Hi vintagesunbeam, thanks for the input. I couldn't find any records for him which is what prompted this thread, but TNA and I seem to be incompatible 

If you can help it would be greatly appreciated. His name is Albert Ernest CRUDDACE, born 13 Sept 1896 at Low Fell (Gateshead) County Durham.

Regards,
Colin

Added: I DID find something at TNA but this suggests that he wasn't at Salonica
- The National Archives - Ref WO 409/27/39/123 Home Guard records. Albert Ernest Cruddace born 13.9.1896 - Durham Home Guard, 11th Battalion.