Bridging the gap - life in the 20th century

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Communications

Bicycles at school

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Anzac cyclists

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Prime Minister William Massey and Joseph Ward inspect the New Zealand Cyclist Corps.

The New Zealand Cyclist Corps, part of the 2nd Anzac Cyclist Battalion, was heavily involved in the Belgian offensives of 1917. Bicycles were useful for transporting men and light equipment over large distances in much less time than it would take troops on foot – despite often being hampered by the terrain and muddy conditions, they could easily cover 60 kilometres a day. Cyclists also performed tasks such as traffic control, tree felling, cable laying, trench repairs and reconnaissance.

At Messines the battalion prepared an 1800-metre track from the Allies’ reserve line across the former no-man’s land and through abandoned German trenches to a point called Middlefarm to enable the mounted troops to get through. Several members of the battalion were killed, and 19 were wounded carrying out this dangerous work.

State houses in Christchurch, 1978

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

NZHistory.net.nz, New Zealand history online - cycling

Bridging the gap - life in the 20th century

Communications

Bicycles at school

Anzac cyclists

State houses in Christchurch, 1978