When the Australian Cyclist Corp was formed in Egypt in April 1916, it was
still unclear as to how successful they would be once they went to the Western
Front. Although the British and German armies had successfully employed cyclists
during swiftly moving campaigns of 1914, by the time the Australian Cyclist
Companies reached the Western Front in May 1916, the war had settled into a
campaign of attrition, with both combatants ensconsed in trench lines across
northern France.
'Cycling to War' looks at the role played by the two Anzac Corps Cyclist
Battalions in 1916-17, and the Australian Corps and New Zealand cyclists units
in 1918, when during the final months of the war, cyclists were able to
undertake their role in reconnaissance, patrolling, in other words the cyclists
were mounted infantry.
During the three years in France and Belgium, the Anzac cyclists undertook a
surprising array of tasks, fully justifying their existence as corps mounted
troops.
Written by one of Australia's most prolific military historians, 'Cycling to
War' traces the formation of the units that made up the Australian and New
Zealand Cyclist Corps, their frequent reorganizations, and outlines the
cyclists' contribution through the darker days of 1916-17, to the final
victories that ended the Great War in late 1918. The book is profusely
illustrated with many photos and maps, and the appendices include Honours and
Awards, Honour Roll and Nominal Roll.
Contents:
Foreword
Introduction
1. The Two-Wheeled Phenomenon
2. Beginnings in Egypt
3. Off to the Western Front
4. I Anzac Corps Cyclist Battalion
5. II Anzac Corps Cyclist Battalion
6. From XXII Corps to the New Zealand Cyclist Battalion
7. The Australian Corps Cyclist Battalion
8. Afterword
Appendix 1. Time Chart of the Australian Cyclist Corps
Appendix 2. AIF and New Zealand Cyclist Corps Honour Roll
Appendix 3. AIF and New Zealand Cyclist Corps Honours and Awards
Appendix 4. AIF Cyclist Corps Nominal Roll
Appendix 5. Ship Departures of Cyclist Corps Reinforcements
Appendix 6. BEF Cyclist Corps DCMs
Bibliography
Index
