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Motorcycle dispatch riders, New Cross, WW2
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Motorcycle dispatch riders, New Cross, WW2
LCC-LFB junior dispatch riders during training at the New Cross speedway track in South London on 22 April 1942 -- a spot of bother with a bike. Date: 1942
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Media ID 14156838
© London Fire Brigade / Mary Evans Picture Library
1942 Bike Bikes Despatch Dispatch Instruction Instructor Junior Motorbike Motorbikes Motorcycle Repair Repairing Repairs Rider Riders Speedway Track Watching Firefighter Firefighters Firefighting Fireman Firemen
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the intensity and focus of London's junior dispatch riders during their training sessions at the New Cross speedway track in South London on 22 April 1942. Amidst the backdrop of World War II, these young men and women were an essential part of the London Fire Brigade (LFB) and London County Council (LCC) emergency services, delivering crucial messages and supplies between fire stations and incident sites in the congested streets of wartime London. The image shows a moment of pause during the training session as one rider experiences a setback with his motorbike. With the help of his instructor and fellow trainees, he assesses the damage and begins the process of repair. The determination and camaraderie on display are a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness required of these young dispatch riders during this challenging time. The New Cross speedway track, a popular venue for motorcycle racing before the war, was repurposed for the training of these essential workers. The gritty, industrial surroundings of the track provide a stark contrast to the pristine uniforms and gleaming motorbikes, highlighting the juxtaposition of the ordinary and the extraordinary in the midst of wartime London. This photograph offers a unique glimpse into the history of the LFB and LCC during the 1940s, a time when the demand for efficient and effective communication and transportation was at an all-time high. The determination and focus of these young dispatch riders, as they honed their skills on the New Cross track, played a vital role in the success of the emergency services during this critical period in British history.
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