Despatch rider facts for kids

A despatch rider is a special messenger in the army. Their job is to deliver important messages, often called "despatches," from one place to another. Think of "despatch" as meaning "to send something quickly." These riders usually travel on a horse or a motorcycle.

Armies used despatch riders to send messages between their main offices (headquarters) and soldiers fighting on the front lines. They might carry reports or urgent, secret information. This was a very risky job. Riders had to travel through dangerous areas, where they could be hit by gunfire, blown up by a mine, or even captured by the enemy.

A despatch rider being chased by enemies.

What is a Despatch Rider?

A despatch rider is a key person in the army who carries messages. These messages are often very important or secret. They need to be delivered quickly and safely. Despatch riders are known for their bravery and skill.

Their Important and Dangerous Job

Despatch riders played a vital role in wars. They carried crucial information that could change the outcome of battles. Because they often rode between fighting armies, their journeys were full of danger. They faced threats like enemy gunfire, hidden land mines, and the risk of being captured.

From Horses to Motorcycles

For a long time, despatch riders always rode horses. But in the 20th century, especially during big conflicts like World War I and World War II, motorcycles became their main way to travel. Motorcycles were faster and could carry messages more quickly across difficult terrain.

However, by the end of World War II, new technologies started to change things. Electronic ways to communicate, like radios, became much better. Also, cryptography (the art of writing and solving secret codes) improved. This meant that armies could send messages instantly and securely without needing a rider. Because of these changes, despatch riders became less common, but their history is still very important.

Images for kids

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  A despatch rider delivers a message to the signals office of 1st Border Regiment at Orchies, France, 13 October 1939

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  British military motorcycle dispatch rider, 1914 World War I.

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  A Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) despatch rider on a tea break, seated on her P&M 500cc single, 1918.

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  An Indian dispatch rider in Cyprus, 3 March 1942

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  The contemporary despatch rider model of the German army is the BMW F850GS