World War 2 Motorcycle Despatch Rider
A1 sized, framed copy of painting of DR Rider Rex Beggs by Douglas Watson printed on canvas.
A despatch rider is a military messenger, mounted on horse or motorcycle (and occasionally in Egypt during World War I, on camels). Despatch riders were used by armed forces to deliver urgent orders and messages between headquarters and military units. They had a vital role at a time when telecommunications were limited and insecure. They were also used to deliver carrier pigeons. During World War II despatch riders were often referred to as Don Rs (from phonetic spelling for D in "DR") in Commonwealth forces. In 1940 an order for 725 Royal Enfield WD/C side-valve 350cc motorcycles was placed with the manufacturer by the Australian military.
Details
Details
Beggs is wearing the issue canvas coat, leather gauntlets, leather helmet and goggles and on each arm the grey over blue despatch rider armbands.
Portrait was originally part of the 2024 temporary exhibition “Wartime Archies – Military Portraiture in the Archibald Prize 1939 1945”. It is now a feature in the Communications Gallery opened as part of the 100th anniversary of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals.
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
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