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Archiver > GREATWAR > 2001-08 > 0997122996


From: Iain Kerr <>
Subject: Re: [WW1] Army Cyclists Corps-British Army
Date: Mon, 06 Aug 2001 19:36:36 +0100
In-Reply-To: <3.0.1.32.20010806122600.006d9ce8@smtp-server.carleton.ca>


At 12:26 06/08/01 -0400, clem Hobbs wrote:
>I would appreiate any information on this Corps. I believe it was formed
>in November 1914 from personnel of the divisional cyclist companies and of
>men under training as cyclists to provide drafts for these companies.
>
>Were these men, once trained, returned to their original regiments? Was
>this unit disbanded, and if so when?
>
>These questions relate to a photograph that I have of an ancestor and the
>cap badge is clearly that of the Army Cyclists Corps but I have no further
>information on him at this time.
>
>I would appreciate any help.
>best wishes to all
>Clem Hobbs

Clem,

Army Cyclist Corps

The Army Cyclist Corps was formed in 1914. It originally absorbed a number
of pre-existing cyclist battalions, from the Territorial Force. All the
pre-existing units were part of the volunteer movement that became the
Territorial Force in 1908. More cyclist units were raised during the war,
but these all wore the ACC badge whereas the pre-existing units wore their
own distinctive unit badges.

Various Rifle Volunteer Corps formed cyclist sections in 1885. In 1888,
the 26th Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps became the first cyclist battalion
and it remained the only one until the formation of the Territorial Force
in 1908, when three existing infantry battalions were converted to
cyclists, and six totally new cyclist battalions were formed. Four more
battalions were formed between 1911 and 1914. Until 1914 the battalions
were used largely as coastal patrols.

The following cyclist battalions existed on mobilisation in Aug 1914

6th (Cyclist) Battalion (Territorial Force), The Norfolk Regiment;
6th (Cyclist) Battalion (Territorial Force), The Suffolk Regiment;
6th (Cyclist) Battalion (Territorial Force), The Royal Sussex Regiment;
8th (Cyclist) Battalion (Territorial Force), The Essex Regiment;
The Kent Cyclist Battalion (Territorial Force);
The Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalion (Territorial Force).
The 25th (County of London) Cyclist Battalion, The London Regiment
(Territorial Force).
The 5th (Cyclist) Battalion (Territorial Force), East Yorkshire Regiment;
The Northern Cyclist Battalion (Territorial Force).
10th (Cyclist) Battalion (Territorial Force), The Royal Scots (Lothian
Regiment);
The Highland Cyclist Battalion (Territorial Force).
7th (Cyclist) Battalion (Territorial Force), The Devonshire Regiment;
8th (Isle of Wight Rifles, "Princess Beatrice's") Battalion (Territorial
Force), The Hampshire Regiment
9th (Cyclist) Battalion (Territorial Force), The Hampshire Regiment;
7th (Cyclist) Battalion (Territorial Force), The Welsh Regiment.

In 1915 the first cyclist units went overseas to France and Flanders and to
Gallipoli. Here they were usually broken up and employed as divisional
companies in something of a reconnaissance role. Each infantry division
then had, as part of its "mounted troops", a cyclist company with the same
number as the division (e.g. 1st Cyclist Company for the 1st Division).

By the end of the war in France and Flanders, the cyclist battalions had
been reformed and the orbat was:

1st Cyclist Battalion supporting I Corps;
2nd Cyclist Battalion (Yorkshire Dragoons) supporting II Corps;
4th Cyclist Battalion supporting IV Corps;
5th Cyclist Battalion (North Irish Horse) supporting V Corps;
6th Cyclist Battalion supporting VI Corps;
7th Cyclist Battalion supporting VII Corps;
8th Cyclist Battalion supporting VIII Corps;
9th Cyclist Battalion supporting IX Corps;
10th Cyclist Battalion supporting X Corps;
11th Cyclist Battalion supporting XI Corps;
13th Cyclist Battalion supporting XIII Corps;
15th Cyclist Battalion supporting XV Corps;
17th Cyclist Battalion supporting XVII Corps;
18th Cyclist Battalion supporting 1st Army;
19th Cyclist Battalion supporting XIX Corps;
New Zealand Cyclist Battalion supporting XXII Corps;
Australian Cyclist Battalion supporting Australian Corps;
Canadian Cyclist Battalion supporting Canadian Corps;

In 1915 and 1916 a number of dismounted yeomanry units, often the second
line regiments based in the UK, were converted to cyclist units in cyclist
formations (both brigades and divisions). But most of these conversions
were of a relatively short-term nature and remained in the UK.

Post WWI

During the First World War operations, cyclists often found themselves in
unfriendly and difficult terrain and had to give up their mounts. Based on
that experience the British Army found no long-term role for cyclists. The
Army Cyclist Corps was disbanded in 1919.

After WWI, the Territorial Force cyclist units that predated the Army
Cyclist Corps ceased to have a cyclist role in 1922 and were converted to
other roles (infantry, artillery and signals).

Yours aye,

Iain Kerr in Windsor, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Web Page at: http://home.clara.net/iainkerr/index.htm
RootsWeb Sponsor and Listowner for the WORLDWAR2 Mailing List.

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