In 1908, major reorganization abolished local Militia and brought the Yeomanry and these Volunteer groups together under the banner of the Territorial Force. At this point, ten Territorial Cyclist Battalions were incorporated into the Army Cyclist Corps
At the time the first cycle units were formed the bicycle was a much faster mode of transport than marching - and cheaper than a horse. They units undertook advance scouting/recce duties, despatch riding (until the motor cycle became popular) and were able to move fast to take up advanced positions to await the bulk of the troops coming on foot.
THE ARMY CYCLIST CORPS
7th (Cyclist) Battalion Devonshire Regiment
Kent Cyclist Battalion (Formerly known as "West Kent")
Essex and Suffolk Cyclist Battalion
Highland Cyclist Battalion
7th (Cyclist) Battalion The Welsh Regiment
10th (Cyclist) Battalion The Royal Scots (Lothian) Regiment
25th (County of London) Cyclist Battalion The London Regiment
6th (Cyclist) Battalion Norfolk Regiment
Northern Cyclist Battalion
5th (Cyclist) Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment
The machine was designed to enable the rider to travel as a completely self-contained one-man fighting unit. Everything he needed could be stowed away on the machine from his rifle to his cape and ground sheet. A small kitbag carried behind the seat held rations and personal items and an emergency toolkit hung from the crossbar. On tarmac roads, in spite of its heavy iron frame, the machine provided fairly fast and effective transport but on rough terrain and in muddy conditions, riders often had to abandon their machines.
"Cycle Artificers" were used to maintain the machines. These were members of each Battalion who were specially trained as mechanics.
The original TA cyclist battalions, and their duplicates, were mainly posted to parts of the UK where there were long sparsely populated stretches of coastline. Their superior mobility allowed all parts of the coast line to be visited as frequently with less men than conventional foot troops.
The war formed Army Cyclist Corps units were intended for recce. but static warfare meant that they performed messenger work or used their mobility to provide quick reinforcement to threatened sectors. At Divisional level it does seem that the Cycle Company was used as a convenient pool of spare men...
Many home based Yeomanry horsed cavalry units went over to cycles near the end of the war due to shortage/expense of hoses. This was not popular with the men.
Cyclist badge. The TF pre-war sported a cyclist's badge for qualified men: a bicycle wheel on sleeve Men wore the bandolier equipment, rifle or carbine in/on a special carrier attached to frame
I thought you might like some "padding " !!
