KONDOA Posted 29 March , 2005 Share Posted 29 March , 2005 Chums, Heres a query that may promote a serious answer but all suggestions welcome. The 1914 establishment of a RGA Heavy battery consisted of 118 horses both riding and draught and one (1) bicycle. Could a pal suggest the official purpose of this contraption?? Was it in case of mass illness/stubborness on the part of their steeds?? What was the miltiary thinking behind this technological innovation?? Would additional bicycles seem prudent in hindsight?? Roop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnreed Posted 29 March , 2005 Share Posted 29 March , 2005 I 'm sure that the bicycle was ridden by the Orderly. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KONDOA Posted 29 March , 2005 Author Share Posted 29 March , 2005 This new fast reply button certainly lives up to it's name!! Thanks John, my next question would be what did the orderly do?? Roop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnreed Posted 29 March , 2005 Share Posted 29 March , 2005 I think that yuo will find he was a gofor. Go for this and that. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KONDOA Posted 29 March , 2005 Author Share Posted 29 March , 2005 OK John, thats good enough and certainly doesn't warrant the use of a valuable horse. Roop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnreed Posted 29 March , 2005 Share Posted 29 March , 2005 Roop Strange as it may seem a bicycle is still held on the AFG 1098 holdings of a Gun Battery, you will find it has been commandeered by the BQMS and his storeman. When I was the RQMS I demanded a bicycle in parts assembled it and use it to get around the camp area. jOHN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KONDOA Posted 29 March , 2005 Author Share Posted 29 March , 2005 It is strange but the need is obviously still recognised. Your own initiative has answered my tongue in cheek question anyway: "Would additional bicycles seem prudent in hindsight??" Obviously yes. Thanks John, Roop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted 30 March , 2005 Share Posted 30 March , 2005 Since an officer probably wouldn`t have been expected to ride a bike, (infra dig!), one bike would suffice for the soldiery otherwise they`d all have been biking off to the estaminets etc! Phil B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KONDOA Posted 30 March , 2005 Author Share Posted 30 March , 2005 A wise precaution I am sure ! Roop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 1 April , 2005 Share Posted 1 April , 2005 Chums, Heres a query that may promote a serious answer but all suggestions welcome. The 1914 establishment of a RGA Heavy battery consisted of 118 horses both riding and draught and one (1) bicycle. Could a pal suggest the official purpose of this contraption?? Was it in case of mass illness/stubborness on the part of their steeds?? What was the miltiary thinking behind this technological innovation?? Would additional bicycles seem prudent in hindsight?? Roop <{POST_SNAPBACK}> If they intended the bike to replace recalcitrant steeds, I guess more than one might have been extremely prudent. On a serious note, staff officers made great use of bicycles in the Retreat - you don't need to feed them, water them or rest them. Amazing what an untechnological army it was - I found a note in the 8th Division War Diary a while back that they division had ONE typewriter when it went to France, to issue goodness knows what amount of paper orders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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