
The New Zealand Cyclist Corps, which served at various times as the II Anzac Corps Cyclist Battalion, XXII Corps Cyclist Battalion and New Zealand Cyclist Battalion, was added to the New Zealand Division in April 1916. Starting as a single company, it was formed in New Zealand from men training to be mounted riflemen. The unit arrived on the Western Front in July 1916, when it was split into two companies and was attached to II Anzac Corps. For most of the war it did not fight with the rest of the New Zealand Division but as a separate unit attached to other corps within the British Army.
Cyclist battalions performed a similar function to mounted riflemen, conducting scouting and reconnaissance work. Like mounted riflemen they were of little value in trench warfare conditions, so spent much of the war on navvying work. They were particularly involved with burying telegraph cables, and at times served in the trenches as infantrymen.
The New Zealand cyclist companies served exclusively on the Western Front, participating in the Messines and Passchendaele offensives in 1917 and the Spring Offensive and Advance to Victory in 1918. In January 1918 a third New Zealand company was created to replace an Australian one that had been transferred. The three New Zealand companies were then designated XXII Corps Cyclist Battalion. In September 1918 the unit was renamed the New Zealand Cyclist Battalion.
Name | Unit attached to | Campaigns | Dates | Further information |
---|---|---|---|---|
No. 1 New Zealand Cyclist Company | 2nd ANZAC Corps Cyclist Battalion (July 1916-December 1917); XXII Corps Cyclist Battalion (January-March 1918; May 1918-March 1919); A Company, XXII Mounted Troops Composite Battalion (March-April 1918) | Western Front: Messines 1917; Passchendaele 1917; Spring Offensive and Advance to Victory 1918; The battles of the Marne, 1918; Second battles of the Somme, 1918. | July 1916-November 1918 | Unit diaries at Archives New Zealand, Unit diaries at Australian War Memorial: April-July 1916, July 1916-December 1917 |
No. 2 New Zealand Cyclist Company | 2nd ANZAC Corps Cyclist Battalion (July 1916-December 1917); XXII Corps Cyclist Battalion (January-March 1918; May 1918-March 1919); A Company, XXII Mounted Troops Composite Battalion (March-April 1918) | Western Front: Messines 1917; Passchendaele 1917; Spring Offensive and Advance to Victory 1918; The battles of the Marne, 1918; Second battles of the Somme, 1918. | July 1916-November 1918 | Unit diaries at Archives New Zealand, Unit diaries at Australian War Memorial |
No. 3 New Zealand Cyclist Company | XXII Corps Cyclist Battalion (January-March 1918; May 1918-March 1919); B Company, XXII Mounted Troops Composite Battalion (March-April 1918) | Spring Offensive and Advance to Victory 1918; The battles of the Marne, 1918; Second battles of the Somme, 1918. | January-November 1918 | Unit diaries at Archives New Zealand |
Cloth patch, badges, shoulder title and puggaree
Cloth patch worn by the New Zealand Cyclist Corps. Cloth patches sewn on the backs of uniform jackets from October 1916 identified which unit – or part of a unit – an individual belonged to.
Cap and collar badges: Wheel with crossed rifles surmounted by a crown and a scroll underneath with the words ‘NZ Cyclist Corps’.
An earlier badge featured a winged cycle front wheel and handlebars, with a scroll beneath reading ‘NZ Cyclist Corps’.
Shoulder title worn by the New Zealand Cyclist Corps.
The New Zealand Cyclist Corps wore the same puggaree (hatband) as the mounted rifles.
Further reading
Austin, Ronald J., Cycling to war: the history of the AIF/NZ Cyclist Corps 1916–19 (McCrae, Australia: Slouch Hat Productions, 2008)
Regimental history of New Zealand Cyclist Corps in the Great War, 1914–1918 (Auckland: Whitcombe & Tombs, 1922; reprinted by Kiwi Publishers, Christchurch, 2004; reprinted by Naval & Military Press, Uckfield, East Sussex, 2006)
The New Zealand cyclists at Messines (WW100, June 2017).
NZCC-inspired Under 23 National NZ Champs trophy - see related blog posts here and here and video.
Map of New Zealand Cyclist Corps movements on the Western Front, 1916-19
New Zealand Cyclist Corps Roll of Honour
This roll of honour was compiled using the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database in combination with the roll of honour published in Regimental history of New Zealand Cyclist Corps in the Great War, 1914–1918
Surname | Forenames | Age | Date of death | Rank | Country buried | Cemetery |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANSTEY | CHARLES LLOYD | 27 | 12/06/1917 | Private | France | BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, NORD |
BAKER | FREDERICK | 35 | 23/07/1918 | Private | France | MARFAUX (NEW ZEALAND) MEMORIAL |
BARWICK | CECIL HENRY | 21 | 11/06/1917 | Private | France | LONGUENESSE (ST. OMER) SOUVENIR CEMETERY |
BROWNE | EVELYN JAMES WILLIAM | 17-Apr-18 | Private | Belgium | MESSINES RIDGE (N.Z.) MEMORIAL | |
BURROWES | WILLIAM | 32 | 17/04/1918 | Private | Belgium | MESSINES RIDGE (N.Z.) MEMORIAL |
CAIRNS | RONALD JAMES | 20 | 7/06/1917 | Private | Belgium | MESSINES RIDGE (N.Z.) MEMORIAL |
CHATWIN | ARTHUR ROY | 22 | 23/07/1918 | Private | France | MARFAUX (NEW ZEALAND) MEMORIAL |
CLARK | JOHN STANLEY | 25 | 25/03/1918 | Lance Corporal | Belgium | NINE ELMS BRITISH CEMETERY |
CLINTON | THOMAS JAMES | 25 | 18/04/1918 | Private | Belgium | MESSINES RIDGE (N.Z.) MEMORIAL |
CURTIS | RONALD HENRY | 27 | 27/04/1918 | Private | Belgium | BUTTES NEW BRITISH CEMETERY (N.Z.) MEMORIAL, POLYGON WOOD |
DES BARRES | JOHN CLIFFORD STUART | 30/09/1916 | Corporal | France | RUE-DU-BOIS MILITARY CEMETERY, FLEURBAIX | |
DICKESON | COLIN ADDISON | 30 | 26/04/1918 | Lieutenant | Belgium | LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY |
DUFF | ARTHUR LIONEL MCBURNEY | 7/06/1917 | Private | Belgium | MESSINES RIDGE (N.Z.) MEMORIAL | |
FISHER | ORR | 25/04/1918 | Private | Belgium | BUTTES NEW BRITISH CEMETERY (N.Z.) MEMORIAL, POLYGON WOOD | |
FOOTE | RAYMOND ANDREW | 21 | 4/08/1918 | Lance Corporal | France | ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN |
FOULDS | GEORGE ROBERT | 23/07/1918 | Lance Serjeant | France | MARFAUX BRITISH CEMETERY | |
GEORGE | ALFRED FREDERICK | 27 | 1/11/1916 | Private | France | CITE BONJEAN MILITARY CEMETERY, ARMENTIERES |
GILCHRIST | HARRY | 23 | 6/05/1918 | Lance Serjeant | France | ARNEKE BRITISH CEMETERY |
GOLD | ALBERT | 23 | 25/04/1918 | Private | Belgium | BUTTES NEW BRITISH CEMETERY (N.Z.) MEMORIAL, POLYGON WOOD |
GRIFFITH * | DONALD CLIVE | 23-Jul-18 | 2nd Lieut | France | Marfaux British Cemetery | |
GRINDROD | CHARLES | 23 | 23/07/1918 | Lance Corporal | France | MARFAUX BRITISH CEMETERY |
HANNAM | FRANK | 29/07/1918 | Private | France | ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN | |
HARRIS | RAYMOND EDWARD | 21 | 18/04/1918 | Private | Belgium | LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY |
HARRISON ** | DUDLEY EDWARD | 23 | 30/03/1919 | Private | New Zealand | DORIE CEMETERY |
HARSTON | JAMES FRIERSON | 34 | 10/11/1918 | Private | Belgium | HAVAY COMMUNAL CEMETERY |
HOBBS ** | CHARLES VIVIAN | 23 | 10/12/1916 | Private | France | ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY |
HODGSON | THOMAS CORLESS | 23 | 23/04/1918 | Serjeant | France | BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY |
HODSON | VICTOR EMANUEL | 17/04/1918 | Private | Belgium | MESSINES RIDGE (N.Z.) MEMORIAL | |
HUNTER | ALBERT WILLIAM | 38 | 17/04/1918 | Private | Belgium | MESSINES RIDGE (N.Z.) MEMORIAL |
JOHNSON | HENRY JOSEPH | 23/07/1918 | Private | France | MARFAUX BRITISH CEMETERY | |
JOHNSON ** | GEORGE WILLIAM | 24 | 14/10/1918 | Lance Corporal | France | DUISANS BRITISH CEMETERY, ETRUN |
KATAU ** | WILSON | 23 | 6/10/1918 | Lance Corporal | United Kingdom | BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY |
KAY | ALEXANDER POWELL | 21 | 11/07/1917 | Private | France | PONT-D'ACHELLES MILITARY CEMETERY, NIEPPE |
KLOTH | AUGUSTUS RICHARD | 24 | 23/07/1918 | Private | France | MARFAUX (NEW ZEALAND) MEMORIAL |
LINDSAY | HENRY JOHN | 23 | 23/07/1918 | Private | France | MARFAUX (NEW ZEALAND) MEMORIAL |
MARTIN | LESLIE | 22 | 5/07/1918 | Private | United Kingdom | BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY |
MATTHEWS | FREDERICK COLETT | 23 | 23/07/1918 | Serjeant | France | MARFAUX (NEW ZEALAND) MEMORIAL |
McLAUGHLIN | ALBERT JAMES | 23/07/1918 | Private | France | MARFAUX (NEW ZEALAND) MEMORIAL | |
McLEOD | ALEMEDA ROHILLIA | 25 | 23/07/1918 | Private | France | MARFAUX BRITISH CEMETERY |
MIDGLEY | HERBERT LATIMER | 23 | 7/11/1918 | Serjeant | France | CAMBRAI EAST MILITARY CEMETERY |
MILLS | HENRY | 22 | 23/07/1918 | Private | France | MARFAUX BRITISH CEMETERY |
MILNE | THOMAS PERCY | 26 | 8/11/1916 | Private | France | BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, NORD |
MUDIE | PETER WILLIAM | 21 | 4/01/1918 | Private | Belgium | LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY |
MULCAHY | DAVID | 29/04/1918 | Private | Belgium | WYTSCHAETE MILITARY CEMETERY | |
NEWMAN | LEONARD ARTHUR | 25 | 23/07/1918 | Private | France | MARFAUX (NEW ZEALAND) MEMORIAL |
PANKHURST | MAURICE ALLAN | 11/07/1917 | Private | France | PONT-D'ACHELLES MILITARY CEMETERY, NIEPPE | |
PERRY | ALBERT JOHN | 23/07/1918 | Private | France | MARFAUX (NEW ZEALAND) MEMORIAL | |
POTTER | WILLIAM | 29 | 30/03/1918 | Private | Belgium | HOOGE CRATER CEMETERY |
POWER | THOMAS EDWARD | 28 | 18/04/1918 | Private | Belgium | MESSINES RIDGE (N.Z.) MEMORIAL |
READ | ROBERT HENRY | 27/09/1918 | Private | France | CAGNICOURT BRITISH CEMETERY | |
ROWLAND * | ALBERT EDWARD MACKAY | 24-Jul-18 | 3rd Lieut | France | Marfaux British Cemetery | |
SHEWRY | DAVID JOSEPH | 23 | 7/06/1917 | Private | France | BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, NORD |
SIMMISS | FRANK ALFRED HENRICKS | 27 | 24/07/1918 | Private | France | TERLINCTHUN BRITISH CEMETERY, WIMILLE |
SMITH | ARTHUR EGMONT | 27 | 23/07/1918 | Private | France | MARFAUX BRITISH CEMETERY |
SMITH | FREDERICK WILLIAM THOMAS | 24 | 23-Jul-18 | Private | France | MARFAUX (NEW ZEALAND) MEMORIAL |
SPEAR | JOHN FORREST | 1-Nov-18 | Private | France | CAMBRAI EAST MILITARY CEMETERY | |
STEVEN | JAMES THOMSON | 25 | 17-Nov-17 | Lieutenant | Belgium | MENIN ROAD SOUTH MILITARY CEMETERY |
STOKES | ALBERT | 28 | 22/12/1917 | Private | Belgium | LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY |
THACKER | JOHN | 25 | 30/08/1918 | Private | France | DAOURS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION |
TURNER | ROBERT HERBERT | 21 | 23/07/1918 | Private | France | MARFAUX (NEW ZEALAND) MEMORIAL |
WALKER | ROY DOUGLAS | 22 | 1/11/1918 | Private | France | SAULTAIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY |
WAWMAN ** | EDWARD | 25 | 4/12/1918 | Private | New Zealand | TE AROHA PUBLIC CEMETERY |
WELSH | JACK DARLING | 21 | 26-Apr-18 | Private | Belgium | BUTTES NEW BRITISH CEMETERY (N.Z.) MEMORIAL, POLYGON WOOD |
WILLIAMS | HENRY RICHARD | 32 | 27-Apr-18 | Private | France | LONGUENESSE (ST. OMER) SOUVENIR CEMETERY |
WYLIE ** | FREDERICK JOHN ALEXANDER | 21/10/1918 | Private | France | ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN |
* On NZCC official history Roll of Honour but listed under different unit by Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
** Listed by CWGC but not on official history Roll of Honour. Aparently because they either died of disease or died after the Armistice.
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