Despatch Collection (#2)

1915 BSA Model K with despatch rider of the 109th Motorcycle Infantry Regiment, French Army. The 109th Infantry Regiment had its origins in Troupe Coloniale Martinique et Guadeloupe, created 1772

A despatch rider of the Wurttemberg forces of the German army speeds along on his motorcycle watched by an officer

LORD JOHN RUSSELL (1792 - 1878), Presenting the new Reform Bill to the House of Commons during his second term as Prime Minister. Date: 1860

Ware butterfly bombs - A passing despatch rider
Photograph: Ware butterfly bombs - A passing despatch rider [... ] of Dower Street, Flatbridge, [... ] read a unique road sign wa[... ] beach-head against ?butterfly? bombs. Picture issued April ?

Despatch rider with Douglas motorcycle, WW1
Despatch rider with a Douglas 349cc motorcycle during the First World War. Date: circa 1916

NFS women in dispatch rider training, WW2
NFS women undergoing dispatch rider training. They were widely used to supplement the lines of communication between various headquarters

London Fire Brigade motorcycle dispatch riders training, WW2
LCC-LFB junior dispatch riders under instruction by a Brigade instructor at the New Cross speedway track in South London on 28 June 1940

Illustration showing a view of transporting post by monorail, New England
Illustration showing a view of transporting post by electric in monorail, New England, USA 1890

A Foreign Office Dispatch Bag, Sealed And Addressed To The British Ambassador At Constantinople, Ready For Delivery To A Queens Foreign Service Messenger. From The Strand Magazine, Published 1896

Men of the Sirhind Brigade of the Indian Corps in France WWI
Men of the Sirhind Brigade of the Indian Corps in France, who took part in a successful attack, and capture two lines of enemy trenches with little loss. 1915

Motorcycle dispatch riders, New Cross, WW2
LCC-LFB junior dispatch riders during training at the New Cross speedway track in South London on 22 April 1942 -- a spot of bother with a bike. Date: 1942

Motorcycle dispatch riders, New Cross, WW2
LCC-LFB junior dispatch riders during training at the New Cross speedway track in South London on 22 April 1942 -- a spot of bother with a bike

NFS dispatch rider training, WW2
A firewoman dispatch rider under instruction

The Despatch Rider, 1916. Artists: Unknown, Cyrus Cuneo
The Despatch Rider, 1916. Printed with peebles inks by Garratt & Atkinson. From The British Printer Vol. XXIX. [Raithby, Lawrence & Co. Ltd, London and Leicester, 1916]

A coast patrol airship sending a despatch by motor launch, c1919 (1919) Artist: Frank Henry Mason
A coast patrol airship sending a despatch by motor launch, c1919 (1919).. From The Wonder Book of Aircraft for Boys and Girls, edited by Harry Golding. [Ward. Lock & Co

Packing the bales of khaki for despatch to the Government, c1914. Khaki manufacture for soldiers uniforms during World War I. From The Manchester Guardian: History of the War, Vol. II.-1914-15. 1915

General Post Office. Letter Carriers Room arranged for dispatch of Newspapers, c1841. Artist: Thomas H Ellis
General Post Office. Letter Carriers Room arranged for dispatch of Newspapers, c1841. From London Interiors with their Costumes & Ceremonies from Drawings made by permission of the Public Offices

Friends of Sapper Wilbert, with motorcycles
One of 8 photograph postcards of friends of Sapper Wilbert, with motorcycles. Some photographs are signed and dated. From a collection of 18 photograph postcards collected by 316956 Sapper Harold

French Front messenger-pigeon service 1917
Special mobil messenger-pigeon service lofts built on a motor-vehicle chassis were used in the Western Front during World War One

Despatch-riders wearing gas-masks under their steel helmets
Two despatch-riders looking at their map at one of the villages on the British front near Salonika. Wearing gas-masks under their steel helmets to protect them against the fumes from Bulgarian gas

John George Dodson / Vf71
JOHN GEORGE DODSON Statesman Date: -

We Gladstone / Question Ti
WILLIAM EWART GLADSTONE Liberal MP and Prime Minister looking completely confident at Question Time in the House (a la Mr Micawber) Date: 1809 - 1898

Disraeli / Caldecott / 1874
BENJAMIN DISRAELI Earl of Beaconsfield Giving a speech as the new Prime Minister in 1874 Date: 1804 - 1881

Aj Balfour / Furniss
ARTHUR JAMES BALFOUR 1st Earl of Balfour British politician, Conservative MP, speaking in the House Date: circa 1890

Brougham / Crowquill Drg
HENRY, 1ST BARON BROUGHAM British MP and lawyer giving a speech in Parliament at the despatch box Date: 1778 - 1868

Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, 1st Earl St Aldwyn
SIR MICHAEL EDWARD HICKS-BEACH 1st EARL ST ALDWYN Statesman giving a speech from the despatch box Date: 1837 - 1916

William St Jf Brodrick
William St John Fremantle Brodrick, Earl of Midleton Statesman Date: 1856 - 1942

The Dogs of War - training messenger dogs at Shoeburyness
Page from the Illustrated London News illustrating the work of the British War Dog School at Shoeburyness on the Essex coast in training dogs to become messengers at the front during the First World

Pigeons and their motor lorry home at the front, WWI
H.M. " Air" Service - Petrol and Pigeons at the Front. A motor lorry behind the lines, converted into a home for carrier pigeons, used to carry message at the front

How staff are informed of movements at the Front by Matania
A scene in a stately French chateau. From the roar and the excitement of the trenches to the peaceful calm of a French chateau - a despatch rider at British headquarters with reports from

AFS regional training exercise, Wymondham College
AFS regional training exercise in Norfolk, 10-11 September 1955. Showing the Column Commander briefing the Company Commander

Two women dispatch riders, Towler and Trayner. They went on a world tour on their motorbikes, getting as far as Australia, where they both married and settled down. Date: 1958

AFS despatch riders at lecture, London, WW2
AFS despatch riders, male and female, at a lecture, London, Second World War. Date: 1940s

Departure of mail to British Soldiers
The regular despatch of soldierss letters and parcels throughout World War One. Several million letters and cards are sent weekly to different fronts

Sportsmans Battalions, 1915
An advertisement for sportsmans battalions, featuring a despatch rider on a Douglas motor cycle, pointing urgently to some smoking ruins

Royal Engineers badge, Signal Company Despatch Rider
Motorbike badge, Royal Engineers 1914-1918 Signal Company Despatch Rider. Commemorative Ware. Date: 1914-1918

Belgian motorcycle despatch rider, 1914
A Belgian motorcycle despatch rider just manages to outpace a group of German Uhlans on horseback in a moonlight encounter. Date: 1914

Opening of the tube line between Holborn and Euston
The pneumatic despatch tube: the Holborn end of the tube on the opening day of the line between Euston Square and Holborn. Date: 1865

Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett writing a despatch, Dardanelles, WW1
Ellis Ashmead-Barlett (1881-1931), British war correspondent, pictured at his typewriter resting on ammunition boxes after the landing at Anafarta, writing a despatch

Winter dispatch carrying on the Western Front 1917
Corporal Newsham, a British Press despatch rider, studying a map on his motorcycle at Rollancourt in northern France during the First World War

Despatch riders bike on fire, Western Front, WW1
A motor despatch riders bike catches fire on the Western Front in France during World War One, watched by a group of soldiers. Date: circa 1916

Big fighting ships auxiliaries by G. H. Davis
Navy notes of the week. A big fighting ships auxiliaries: some little-known members of the British fleet. 1912

Motor cyclist on the Western Front, WW1
A motor cyclist putting his enthusiasm to good use on the Western Front during the First World War. Date: 1914

Loading spare motor parts, Western Front, WW1
British soldiers loading spare motor transport parts on the Western Front in France during World War One. Date: circa 1916

Motor transport work, Western Front, France, WW1
British troops engaged in motor transport work near the Western Front in France during World War One. They are packing parts at a depot ready for despatch. Date: circa 1916

Wartime news satire, WW1
A page which at first glance appears to be full of wartime news, but which on more detailed examination turns out to be a satire on press censorship during the First World War

Women dispatch riders in training, WW2
Women dispatch riders in training during the Second World War. Date: 1940s

Allied Armour heading into Holland; Second World War, 1944
Illustration showing Allied units heading up the Eindhoven to Nijmegen road in Holland during September 1944. In the foreground of this image one can see a tank destroyer, a despatch rider

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Despatch: A Journey Through Time and Service" Queen Victoria and Munshi Abdul Karim, 1900: Witness the unique bond between Queen Victoria and her trusted confidant, Munshi Abdul Karim, as they exchange despatches that shaped history. The British Second Army in Valkenswaard, Holland; Second World War: Explore the crucial role riders in relaying vital information during wartime operations, ensuring effective communication on the frontlines. British Army messenger pigeon service: Discover the incredible feats of these feathered heroes who fearlessly carried life-saving messages across enemy lines during times of conflict. AFS despatch rider and messenger, WW2: Step into the shoes of a fearless Allied Forces Services (AFS) despatch rider who braved danger to deliver urgent messages amidst chaos and uncertainty. Women dispatch riders in training, WW2: Uncover the inspiring stories of courageous women who defied societal norms by becoming skilled dispatch riders during World War II, breaking barriers with every ride. Christmas parcels for the trenches 1916: Delve into heartwarming tales of hope as dedicated individuals send festive care packages to soldiers at warfronts, bringing joy amidst darkness during Christmas time. Despatch riders with Douglas motorcycles, WW1: Ride alongside brave despatch riders mounted on powerful Douglas motorcycles as they navigate treacherous terrains to ensure swift communication between units during World War I. Firefighters outside mobile kitchen, WW2: Witness firefighters' unwavering dedication as they gather outside a mobile kitchen to receive vital instructions through rapid-fire despatches while battling flames amid wartime chaos. The Special Private Despatch by Margaret Bradley: Experience an emotional journey through Margaret Bradley's poignant book "The Special Private Despatch, " capturing personal accounts from those affected by war's aftermath – a testament to resilience and healing. Armada/Warning Beacons.