Despatch Riders WW1

[Colin Cruddace]

Hi All,

I have been told that my Grandad's half-brother was posted to Salonika in WW1 as a Despatch Rider. This information was given by his wife to their son, however I can find no records for him.

Would he be a regular soldier or regarded as a civilian volunteer? I don't want to research his service, if he had any, but I would appreciate any help in solving the riddle.

Regards,
Colin

[Sharon01]

Hi,

A little info .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Despatch_rider

Sharon

[James1950]

My grandfather was a dispatch rider in the Army Service Corps.i think most of the dispatch riders came from this Corps. They would also be assigned to various other regiments. At one point he was assigned to the Royal Artillery when he would deliver messages from the Gun spotters to the Gunners.

James

[Colin Cruddace]

Thank you for the prompt replies, Sharon and James.

Wiki suggests that the early ones were volunteers which would explain why I can't find any records.

James, did you find anything for your Grandad?

Colin

[James1950]

Yes Colin. I got his service record. He was awarded the Military Medal. He had driven through what he thought was a deserted village and came under enemy fire. He realised that there was an Army convoy behind him and drove back through the village under more gunfire to warn the oncoming troops.

http://www.burnleygallantry.co.uk/gallantry/heyworthjamesrobinsonmm.htm

Kind regards
James

[Colin Cruddace]

Thanks again James, what a heroic act indeed.

At the time, mine was apprenticed as a motor mechanic so he may well have had his own machine. The source of the information seems credible so I can only assume that he was a volunteer and that no official records exist.

Colin

[James1950]

Thank you Colin,

I would have thought that even volunteers would be assigned to a Regiment as otherwise they could be treated as spies if captured as a civilian.

Good luck with your search

Kind regards
James

[Colin Cruddace]

Thank you Colin,

I would have thought that even volunteers would be assigned to a Regiment as otherwise they could be treated as spies if captured as a civilian.

Good luck with your search

Kind regards
James

Hi James,

I would have thought that the opposite would have applied. A military man dressed as a civilian could be treated as a spy, but a civilian rider assigned to a regiment is still a civilian.

I've been Goggling again and there does seem to be Civilan Volunteer Despatch Riders but only commemorated on Woodbine fag cards 

Regards,
Colin

[James1950]

I stand corrected