Cyclists

The United States Army was the first to use cyclists for military gain, helping with riot control in Havana Cuba.

In South Africa it was an attorney from Krugersdorp, called Danie Theron (1870-1900), who persuaded General Piet Koubert and President Paul Kruger that a cycling Corps would be very useful in the forthcoming war with the British. The Wielrijders Rapportgangers Corps was established under the command of Captain Theron and numbered some 108 men who were distributed in various different Commandos. On the Natal front at the battle of Spioenkop, Boer cyclists diverted the British fire from a hill overlooking the Tugela River by raising the Transvaal flag on the summit. They stayed there until the heavy artillery chased them off.

On the British side Colonel George Knox took the initiative, establishing several cycling corps among them a section with the Artillery and Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Cyclists were used mainly for reconnaissance and to carry messages between headquarters, the cavalry and infantry. A special eight-man cycle designed by the Australians had a detachable rim for use on railway tracks. Cyclists were also used to transport carrier Pigeons as carrying them on horseback disturbed them too much.                                              

The Durban Light Infantry used their cycle company to good effect during the early part of the war to scout and reconnoitre the area around Colenso.