大象传媒

Apparently the "signals" incorporated an early equivalent of the despatch rider who were provided with horses. Dad always spoke very fondly of his horse which, he said, was the tallest in the company. Being the shortest soilder (5ft 6 or 7) with the tallest horse presented him with some difficulty in mounting. To overcome this his horse was fitted with two stirrups on the left hand side; on the command "prepare to mount" Dad would put his right foot in the lower stirrup and raise himself up, as his head appeared over the horse's back the command "mount" would be given so Dad then put his left foot into the higher stirrup and mounted normally. The troop would then appear to mount together as required.
Later the "dispatch riders" were mechanised and issued with motorcycles. Two wheeled power became synonymous with disaster as my father lost control, rode straight into the HQ tent and out the back, ripping the canvas and ruining one army bell tent in the process. Fortunately for him radio transmitting by Morse Code was being introduced and dad was re-trained as a signaler.

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