Sandy IN Bean's Volume 3, AIF in France 1916, p 967 it has the Cycle Bn under Mounted Troops for 1 ANZAC Corps and 2 ANZAC {Later XXII) Corps with their own colour patch. It did get 2 mentions in the Index, so you may find something about in in any publication on the reorganisation of the AIF in early 1916 in Egypt. MY GUESS is that they were a Corps troops to be used in any brake through by the Corps Divisions. This did not happen on the Western Front until Monash's campaign in 1918. Perhaps others may know if they were used then or not. Mike Boyd ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lawrence MacIsaac" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2003 12:52 AM Subject: ANZAC Cyclist Battalions WWI > I am in the early stages of researching the military service of three of my > father's first cousins who served in the Australian Imperial Force during > World War I. One of these men first served in the Australian 4th Light > Horse and then was transferred to the 1st ANZAC Cyclist Battalion in 1916. > I am having difficulty locating any information about the activities of the > ANZAC Cyclist Battalions. I have found one small page on the internet which > implies that "the unit was a complete failure" which "never served in the > front line as a fighting unit". > > Since my ancestor who served in the 1st Cyclist Battlion, according to his > AIF service record, continued to serve in France until February 1919, I am > curious about the nature of the duties in which he would have been involved. > There is no description on his service record of his activities from the > date of his posting to the Reorganized 1st Cyclist Battalion on 9 July 1916 > to 15 September 1917. His record indicates that in September 1917 he was > "attached to A Coy for police duty", following which he "rejoined Leicester > Regt (Pioneers)". The only Leicester Regiment that I can find was within > the British Army (not the AIF). > > I would like to learn more about the activities of the 1st Cyclist > Battalion, as well as the transfer of its members to other units. Can > someone please direct me to some detailed source of information (either in > print or on the internet) about the 1st Cyclist Battalion? Any help will be > greatly appreciated. > > Sandy Gratton > > > ==== AUS-MILITARY Mailing List ==== > Anzac Research > http://anzacresearch.tripod.com/index.htm >

Just for the folks who are curious about the cyclists. First of all, the cycles in question were bicycles not motorcycles. The British New Army establishment that the AIF was reorganised under in 1916 provided for a company of cyclists for each division. When they got to France, they were reorganised as corps troops, with a battalion for each corps. There were two ANZACs at this time, hence two corps. The cyclist battalions were organised like infantry, with four companies of four platoons. When II ANZAC became XXII Corps in 1917, the Australian cyclists of the 2nd Cyclist Battalion returned to the Australian Corps as reinforcements. The cyclists were mainly used as despatch riders. During semi-open warfare periods in 1917 and 1918, they operated similar to cavalry. A brigade column in an advance would have cyclists attached. They weren't as mobile or flexible as cavalry, but didn't cost as much to maintain either. Ross Mike Boyd wrote: >Sandy >IN Bean's Volume 3, AIF in France 1916, p 967 it has the Cycle Bn under >Mounted Troops for 1 ANZAC Corps and 2 ANZAC {Later XXII) Corps with their >own colour patch. > >It did get 2 mentions in the Index, so you may find something about in in >any publication on the reorganisation of the AIF in early 1916 in Egypt. > >MY GUESS is that they were a Corps troops to be used in any brake through by >the Corps Divisions. This did not happen on the Western Front until >Monash's campaign in 1918. Perhaps others may know if they were used then >or not. > >Mike Boyd -- ---- First AIF Order of Battle: http://www.adfa.edu.au/~rmallett/