A DESPATCH-RIDER'S LIFE.
In certain ways, motor-cycle despatchriders lead & somewhat easier life than the infantry soldier. As they can travel a long distance in a comparatively short time, it is, of course, good policy for them, to be kept as much as possible in the background when not actually on duty, and many of them are thus enabled to spend their nights under cover. But wherever they are, they must be readv, always, to dash off with despatches at all hours of the day and night. The sergeant in charge of them at each station usually keeps a roster of men for duty, and those men whose names are early in the list turn in at night, knowing that, in all probability, they will be called up as soon as they are asleep, and sent off with urgent despatches. The less urgent messages wait till daybreak ; but, even so, there are usually sufficient important ones to keep many men busy all night. The British Government is slow at branching out on anything new, but, says the London Magazine, there is no doubt that it has realised the value of the motor-cycle, and that it will be many years before a more efficient system of despatch-carrying is devised.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19150918.2.77.44
Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16026, 18 September 1915, Page 5 (Supplement)
Word Count
207A DESPATCH-RIDER'S LIFE. New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16026, 18 September 1915, Page 5 (Supplement)
Using This Item
NZME is the copyright owner for the New Zealand Herald. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons New Zealand BY-NC-SA licence . This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of NZME. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Auckland Libraries and NZME.