Despatch ride Draft Concept Proposal V10api.ning.com/.../DespatchrideDraftConceptProposalV10.pdfAlliance is part of Fast Forward Group Pty Ltd ABN 47072368622 Contact: [email protected]

DRAFT

V9 Created on 24/05/12 12:34 PM

100th Anniversary Dunlop Military Dispatch Cycle &

Vintage Motor Vehicle Ride and Historic Route Establishment

A Go! Alliance Initiative

Please note that the information provided here is for information and discussion purposes only and the property of Go! Alliance and does not commit the organization to the running of this event.

Go! Alliance is part of Fast Forward Group Pty Ltd ABN 47072368622

Contact: [email protected] or call 0411-693-014

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Go! Alliance Military Dispatch Ride Proposal V10

Draft Concept Proposal Summary of proposal In 2013 we propose to re-enact the Dunlop Military Dispatch Ride held in 1912 from Adelaide to Sydney via Melbourne - on its 101 year anniversary. The Military Dispatch ride was a world-famous event first run with only bicycles in 1909 and then with motorbikes and cars in 1912. It was promoted to showcase the use of the bicycle in a very functional context by the military and sponsored and run by Dunlop Tyres. It proved to be a ride of endurance and spirit that exemplifies the enduring Australian character and would have prepared the military for the use of the bicycle in WW I. Given the resurgence of interest in cycling as well as the renewed interest in Australian military history, we seek to promote both in the context of this ride. By including all three modes of transport we will also seek to promote the values of coexistence between those who cycle, motorbike or drive today - as was the case so many years ago. The ride will have the following key characteristics:

1. It will follow the same 63-relay section route - as best as possible - from Adelaide, through Melbourne and on to Sydney GPO passing through smaller communities en route.

2. It will involve a cycling event that is still to be developed given the present day challenges. 3. The overall concept is to include cyclists, vintage motorbikes and cars of the period in some

manner along the route. Relay stops and overnight stopovers along the way will enable communities to enjoy the spectacle of the vintage vehicles and the new and old bicycles.

4. The ride will be used to establish a permanent national route for all to follow and to learn about a chapter of history for generations to come. For communities along the route it should help to create new tourism opportunities. (We anticipate that markers will be established for the relay points and special commemorations at the GPO’s or councils along the route)

5. This ride and the resulting permanent route will promote visitors (including international) to come through the many towns and cities to retrace the steps of the original and to feel part of this amazing history.

In addition, we will seek to establish media coverage of the event and ensure an accurate historic portrayal is provided for. We have already been in touch with Australia’s leading cycling historian, Jim Fitzpatrick, in developing the concept. We have met with SBS, Cycling Australia and Bicycle SA who have all provided in principle backing. SBS has offered to cover the re-running of the relay in its programming. We have begun engaging leaders of vintage motorbike and car clubs as well as cycling organizations and clubs. We have also been in discussions with documentary producers. The ride is being developed by Go! Alliance – an organization dedicated to promoting effective transportation solutions across Australia. Go! Alliance is led by Omar Khalifa, former CEO of Bicycle

Figure 1 Medal awarded to cyclists

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NSW. Stephen Hodge, an Australian cycling champion, will be a part of the advisory group for this ride as will John Holstein and Richard Birdsey – both previous Bicycle NSW board members. Historian and writer Jim Fitzpatrick is also working to develop this initiative and others will be added as the proposal develops and attracts funding. The ride will seek to follow the original route wherever possible keeping in mind safety concerns and the change in road locations and conditions. The ride will be publicized broadly and seek the support of local councils as well as state and federal government. The Department of Defence has already indicated interest in publicizing the event to its personnel. Number of entrants is yet to be decided but there will be limits especially on cyclist numbers for safety and management reasons – these and other details regarding registration, stops, fees and costs are to be part of the following stage. Brief History The Australian military in the early 1900s was keen to test the viability of the bicycle as a potentially simple and effective way of relaying information and moving troops to and around the battlefront and to do other duties such as surveillance and telecommunication line setting. Other armies had already deployed bicycles and the British had even designed a specialized bicycle for the army in 1901. New Zealand, Canada, the USA, Japan, Switzerland, Italy and Germany were also all pressing the bicycle into service in the run up to World War I. Dunlop convinced the Department of Defence to be the patron of a military dispatch ride using 63 changes of riders from Adelaide to Sydney via Melbourne in 1909 and again 1912 – a total distance of 1148 miles (1837 km) was covered in less than 3 days. The ride was successfully completed and raised a large amount of publicity for both the Department of Defence and Dunlop.

For the record, the 1912 completion times were as follows:

Figure 2 Original satchels for cyclists, motorbikes and motor cars – courtesy Ansell Dunlop

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• Motor Cars – 46 hours, 44 minutes; averaging 39.7 km/hr • Motorcyclists – 51 hours, 50 minutes; averaging 35.7 km/hr • Cyclists – 69 hours, 32 minutes; averaging 26.5 km/hr

Cyclists won easily based on the pre-determined handicap of 24 hours on motorcyclists and 30 hours on motorcars. Much of the background has been captured in books by Jim Fitzpatrick and I acknowledge his devotion to keeping this history alive and inspiring this endeavor.

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From the Daily Telegraph April 10, 1909 (first running of the ride) MILITARY DISPATCH CYCLE RIDE. ADELAIDE TO SYDNEY. A SPLENDID PERFORMANCE. A magnificent achievement stands to the credit of the cyclists who were selected by the Dunlop Rubber Company to carry a military dispatch from the State Commandant of South Australia (Colonel Lee to the State Commandant of New South Wales (Colonel Rancland). The first relay of couriers, Messrs. C. Richards, .C. Baulderstone, of the Norwood Cycling Club, received the dispatch from the hands of Colonel Lee at the Adelaide Post-office on Thursday evening as the clock was striking 10 , and they carried if on to Adelaide, where it was handed to two more clubmates for conveyance to Strathalbyn. At the latter place two more couriers were in waiting to take the message on another section, and they in turn were relieved of their responsibilities further on. So complete were the arrangements made by the promoting company that the work of carrying the dispatch was -taken up so enthusiastically by the riders chosen for the task that the distance of 1148 miles to Sydney was traversed by 63 relays of couriers engaged over sections of from 10 to 33 miles, in 69 hours 35 minutes, or nearly four hours less than the aggregate allowed for in the approximate time schedule prepared for the guidance of the riders engaged. The weather throughout was fortunately fine, but several riders on various sections were delayed by head winds or rough roads. In some instances the relays, each of which consisted of two riders, had the misfortune to experience tire troubles, and one of the courier whose machine was intact went on alone, in one case, at least, two of the couriers were not at their station, and consequently the riders who expected to be relieved at the end of their section had to press on to the next point. The last stage of the great ride, carrying the dispatch from Liverpool to Sydney, a distance of 20 miles, was entrusted to two crack road riders, E. A. Pearson and T. Larcombe the former was unfortunate in puncturing a tire at Bankstown, and consequently Larcombe, who is one of the finest riders in the southern hemisphere, went on alone, and received an enthusiastic reception when at 8.5 p.m. on Sun- day he completed the journey at the Sydney General-Post-Office, and handed over the dispatch to the military authorities. The magnificent performance put up by the riders engaged provides a striking object-lesson regarding the potentialities of the cycle as an adjunct to military operations. Apropos of this it is interest to notice that the dispatch, which was entrusted to the couriers, by Colonel I Lee, contained the following message: "The method adopted to convey the message will, it is hoped, create deep thought to the very important role that cyclists would

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be able to assume in the scheme of defence of our country. The running of this stage will be a severe test of the endurance of the men, the utility of the machine, and the enterprise of our people, and will further demonstrate in a marked manner the benefits to be derived from the use of the cycle for dispatch purposes, and, with the formation of a Cyclists Corps, enhance the possibility of rapid mobilisation, to which the great inter-State highways would undoubtedly be a considerable factor." Progress reports of the rides over the different sections, supplied by the promoters, are given below. The following list of schedule times will demonstrate how well the individual riders have done: Benalla, arrived 2.13 p.m., Saturday (schedule time, 7.20 p.m.); Wangaratta, 4.42 p.m. (9.5 p.m.): Barnawartha, 6.14 p.m. 111.5 p.m.); Albury, .7.10 p.m. (12;5 a.m. Sunday): Germanton, 9.15 p.m. (2 n0 am.); Upper Targutta, 12.34 a.m. (5.40 a.m); Gundagai, 3.28 a.m. (8.25 am.); Bookham, 7.2 a.m. (11.5 am.); Yass 8.25 a m. (12.20 p.m.) ; Goulburn, 12.3 p.m (3.40 p.m.); Mittagong, 3.25 p.m. (6.55 p.m.); Picton. 4.10 p.m. (8.20 p.m.): Sydney, 8.5 p.m. (11.25 p.m.). THE RIDE ENDED. DELIVERY OF THE DISPATCH. Sydney, April 11. The military dispatch relay cycle ride, which started at Adelaide at 10 p.m. on Thursday, finished to-day at 8.50 p.m. The 126 cyclists who carried the dispatch across the three States occupying 69 hours 35 minutes on the journey of 1,148 miles. They were divided into 63 relays, with two riders in each, and this is a wonderfully fine performance, for an average pace of nearly 1CA mile» an hour was maintained. The military authorities were keenly interested in the riders who took part. There were 126 of them, and they are deserving of great praise, both for the fine performance they have put up and owing to the fact that they receive no award beyond the satisfaction of knowing that they have demonstrated in a marked manner their value as military dispatch carriers. There was a great crowd at the G.P.O. of probably over 5,000 and they waited for a couple of hours to see the dispatch arrive. At 8.50 p.m. only one courier turned up and it was Larcombe, the finest road rider in Australia - His mate, E. A. Pearson the amateur long distance champion, had a puncture along the road and Larcombe pushed on to the finish alone, where he was greeted with a grea cheer from the large crowd. He had had a hard ride, although the relay was only 20 miles from Liverpool to Sydney. Immediately after Larcombe had handed over the dispatch, safely encased in a leather wallet, to Captain C.H. Brand, the latter was driven by Lieutenant C. O. Sherwood, of the Automobile Corps, to (he Liverpool camp, where Lieutenant-Colonel C. M. Ranclauch, V.D., Commandant of the New South Wales military forces, received it. Prior to his departure from Martin place Captain Brand made a short speech and publicly thanked Larcombe and his brother riders for the interest, they had shown in the event. He considered that the rider had accomplished a wonderful performance. The first half of the trip, Adelaide to Melbourne, took 34 hours 56 minutes to negotiate, and the second half, from Melbourne to Sydney. 34 hours 39 minutes. Much better time would have been done in this Stretch but for the head winds the riders experienced. The scheduled time was beaten by 3 hours 50 minutes.

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From "Caught the cycling craze" AIF Cyclist units 1916-1919 by Graham Wilson "'Twas Mulga Bill from Eaglehawk, that caught the cycling craze." A.B. "Banjo" Patterson--"Mulga Bill's Bicycle" In the New Year of 1916, the Australian units in Egypt, recently withdrawn from the chaos and horror of the Gallipoli Campaign, were reinforcing, rearming and re-equipping. At the same time, the AIF was undertaking an enormous process of reorganisation. At the request of the British high command, the AIF was more than doubling its size. The 1st and 2nd Divisions in Egypt were to be joined in due course by the 3rd Division forming in Australia. In the meantime 1st Division split to form the 13th, 14th and 15th Brigades. Of these, the 14th and 15th Brigades, along with the previously unattached 8th Brigade, formed the 5th Division. The 4th Brigade of the old NZ & A Division split to form the 12th Brigade and these two brigades were joined by the newly raised 13th Brigade (from 3rd Brigade, 1st Division) to form the 4th Division. (1) In expanding the AIF, the Australian authorities were guided by the directions of the British high command's requirement that Dominion formations adhere to British Army orders of battle. Much of the responsibility for forming the new divisions fell on the shoulders of that brilliant staff officer, Cyril Brudenell White. From White's Cairo office a veritable blizzard of paper cascaded as he showered the AIF with letters, minutes and memoranda covering all aspects of the minutiae of the reorganisation. Much of the direction was contained in a series of so-called "AIF Circular Memoranda", of which over 50 were issued. On 10 March 1916, "Circular Memorandum No. 32--Establishment of Cyclist Companies A.I.F., March, 1916" was issued. (2) Circularised to Divisions and Brigades, the memorandum stated: 1. Approval is given for the organization of a Cyclist Company in each Australian Division. The Company will be of the establishment laid down in Part VII War Establishments 1915. 2. The Company will form a distinct organisation, but Officers appointed to it will be seconded from units, and their promotion will be regulated accordingly." Background At first glance, the military use of bicycles might appear odd, even ridiculous. Bear in mind, however, that at the time of the First World War, armies were at a technological cross road, caught between the eras of horse power and mechanical power. Although contemporary armies still clung stubbornly to horsed cavalry, most sensible observers recognised that the day of the horse in war was numbered. But mobility was still vital to warfare, mobility for transport, scouting, and communications. By 1914, the bicycle had quite a long military history. As far back as 1872, the Italian Army had used high-wheelers for communications on military exercises. In 1885 the Brighton Rifles, a British volunteer unit, used high-wheelers during their annual training manoeuvres. The very first specific cyclist unit in the British Army, the 26th Middlesex (Cyclist) Volunteer Rifle Corps, was raised in 1888. Two year later, the British Army carried out trials on an astonishing eight-wheeled monster contraption designed to carry supplies, machine guns or small cannon. Dubbed the "hernia horror," the eight-wheeled, eight man-cycled monster was a failure. In 1891, the Swiss Army Cycle Troops were established. (4) Peugeot of France produced a folding bicycle for the French Army in 1892. In the same year, the Japanese made wide use of cycles

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during annual military maneuvers. The following year, 1893, saw the formal establishment of the German Army cyclist troops. In 1894, the Colorado Militia in the United States used bicycles for communications and liaison work during operations connected with the Cripple Creek Strike. Between 1896-1898, the US Army's all black 25th Infant' Regiment carried out a remarkable experiment to prove the utility of bicycle mounted troops. The experiment included a 1900 mile, 41 day bike ride from Missoula Montana to St Louis Missouri in 1897. Then, in 1898, the unit, now raised from 25 to 100 men, was taken to Cuba at the end of the Spanish-American War by its white commander, Lieutenant James A. Moss. In Cuba, the cyclists performed excellent work on riot control duty in Havana following the end of hostilities. (5) The Anglo-Boer War from 1899-1902 saw widespread use of bicycles by both sides. The British Army fielded a cyclist battalion of the City Imperial Volunteers as well as two bicycle-mounted battalions of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. In addition, local volunteer units fielded cyclist troops, including the Rand Rifles, Cape Cyclist Corps, Kimberley Cyclist Corps and "E" Troop Southern Rhodesia Volunteers. (6) Despite initial doubts, the cyclists performed well and surprised observers by their ability to maintain mobility on the veldt, even during the wet season. Maree records an incident (with no dates given unfortunately) near Hammanskraal in the Transvaal where a cycle mounted patrol of 11 New Zealanders encountered, pursued and captured ten horse mounted Boers. (7) On the Boer side, one of the most famous of Boer fighters was the scout Danie Theron. (8) Theron had been the driving force before the outbreak of the war in forming a bicycle mounted scouting unit, the Wielrijders Rapportgangers Corps. Theron managed to win over the sceptical President Kruger and Commandant-General Joubert by staging a cross-country race over a distance of 75 kilometres between champion cyclist "Koos" Jooste and a horse mounted man. Jooste won the race. During the war, Theron's cycle scouts performed excellent service and in fact were so successful that the British authorities confiscated or strictly controlled the use of bicycles in occupied territory. (9) In 1900, Dursley Pedersen produced a folding bicycle for use by the British Army but it was not accepted. Bianchi of Italy produced a military bicycle for Alpine use in 1905 which is regarded as the forerunner as today's mountain bikes. The success of the bicycle in South Africa led to the development of a military bicycle for the British Army (see below) as well as the establishment of a number of specifically raised cyclist units. The latter occurred in 1908 when the Territorial Force was raised. Although there were approximately 8,000 cyclists in the British volunteer units in 1908, these troops were raised unofficially by their units. The new Territorial Army included, as from 1908: 7th (Cyclist) Battalion the Devonshire Regiment; Essex and Suffolk Cyclist Battalion; Highland Cyclist Battalion; 7th (Cyclist) Battalion the Welsh Regiment; 10th (Cyclist) Battalion the Royal Scots; 25th (City of London) Cyclist Battalion the London Regiment (formerly the 26th Middlesex VRC); 6th (Cyclist) Battalion the Norfolk Regiment; Northern Cyclist Battalion; and 5th (Cyclist) Battalion the East Yorkshire Regiment. (10) During the First World War, France and Belgium would field over 150,000 cyclists; the British Army Cyclist Corps would eventually total 100,00 men; and the German Army would field 125,000 cyclists. Although the US Army was to bring 29,000 bicycles with it to France, these were used for communications and message carrying only and there were no cyclist units in the *AEF. (11) Interestingly, there had been some military involvement with cycling in Australia before the war. Senior officers as Bridges were adamantly opposed to the idea of formed cyclists units, believing, with some cause, that the best way to employ cyclists was as individual scouts and guides.

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Nevertheless, in 1909 the Department of Defence agreed to stand as patron for the Dunlop Military Dispatch Cycle Ride. More a publicity exercise for Dunlop rather than anything else, the 1839 kilometre ride by 68 two-man relay teams in less than 80 hours was quite an achievement. At the start point in Adelaide, a military despatch was handed to the first rider by the Adelaide District Commandant. Just under 70 hours later the despatch was handed over to Captain Brand at Sydney's Victoria Barracks. The relay was repeated in 1912, again with military patronage. This time, however, the cyclists competed against teams of motorists and motorcyclists. This time, the cyclists bettered their 1909 time by three minutes and despite taking almost 24 hours longer than the motor car ten and 18 hours more than the motorcyclists, easily won the event on handicap. Further Ref: http://www.thefreelibrary.com/%22Caught+the+cycling+craze%22+AIF+Cyclist+units+1916-1919.-a092202199

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List of the 60 Relay Points on the Original Dispatch Route (two relays were added to the Robe and Tantanoola and Millars Creek sections to make it 63 total)

1. Adelaide 2. Strathalbyn 3. Langmorme Creek 4. Wellington 5. Meningie 6. Woods Well (now Coorong?) 7. Cantara (now intersection of Keith Cantara

Rd?) 8. Kingston 9. Robe 10. Furner 11. Tantanoola 12. Glenburnie (Mount Gambier) 13. Ardno 14. Strathdownie 15. Casterton 16. Coleraine 17. Hamilton 18. Dunkeld 19. Wickliffe 20. Streatham 21. Skipton 22. Snake Valley 23. Ballarat 24. Gordon 25. Myrniong 26. Anthony’s Cutting (Bacchus Marsh) 27. Rockbank 28. Melbourne 29. Campbellfield 30. Beveridge 31. Kilmore 32. Talarook 33. Avenel 34. Longwood 35. Balmattum 36. Baddaginnie 37. Winton 38. Wangaratta 39. Springhurst 40. Barnawartha 41. Albury 42. Mullengandra 43. Germanton (now Holbrook) 44. Billabong

45. Wagga turn off (Kyemba?) 46. Upper Tarcutta 47. Hillas Creek (now intersection w. Snowy Mt.

Hwy?) 48. Gundagai 49. Jugiong 50. Bookham 51. Yass 52. Gunning 53. Breadalbane 54. Goulburn 55. Marulan 56. Cross Roads (now Illawara Hwy and Hume

intersection?) 57. Mittagong 58. Picton 59. Camden 60. Liverpool Sydney Motor Car legs 1. Adelaide 2. Mount Gambier 3. Melbourne 4. Albury 5. Sydney

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ADELAIDE TO SYDNEY THE MILITARY DISPATCH TEST INTERESTING DETAILS Good progress has been made with the arrangements for the race from Adelaide to Sydney between a series of relays of cyclists, motor cyclists, and motorists, who will carry three separate dispatches supplied by the Commonwealth military authorities. The event is to be decided during the Easter holidays, from April 5 to 8. Two representatives of the Dunlop Company (Messrs. H. B. James and H. V. Tuson) have just returned from a motor trip from Melbourne to Adelaide and back, undertaken for the purpose of interviewing and selecting dispatch carriers for the three divisions. They erected changing boards at the different points along the 574 miles route, at which the respective relays must hand over their dispatch to fresh teams of riders. All along the route the greatest interest was manifested in the forthcoming triangular contest, and there is little doubt that it will provide one of the most interesting and instructive sporting events held in this part of the world, and from a military point of view it will be of inestimable value. The contest is to be a handicap one. The bicycle dispatch will leave Adelaide 24 hours ahead of the motor cycle relay, which leaves six hours ahead of the motor cars. This means that the dispatch carried by relays of cyclists will probably have crossed the South Australian border and be near Coleraine (368 miles from Adelaide) before the motor cyclists start, and they in turn will be well into the Coorong desert before the motor car dispatch leaves Adelaide. In both the cycle and motor cycle divisions dispatch bearers, will travel in pairs to obviate delays in the chain of communication in the event of accidents, breakdowns, etc. The couriers for the second part of the route from Melbourne to Sydney will be announced as soon as the Dunlop Company's representatives have

motored through to Sydney. The first of the dispatches will be handed over by Lieutenant-Colonel H. Le Mesurier (Commandant of the South Australian Military Forces) at 5 a.m. on Good Friday. At the same time on Easter Saturday morning the first pair of motor cyclists will leave with their dispatch, and six hours later H. Bowman and M. Aunger, two well-known Adelaide motorists, will leave on a "Vauxhall" racing car for their 303 mile run through to Mount Gambier. From there either G. G. White (holder of the Melbourne-Adelaide and Sydney-Melbourne car records) or C. B. Kellow and J. W. Moffat (Minerva) will carry on the car dispatch to Melbourne (271 miles). From Adelaide each dispatch will travel day and night, through all weathers, towards Sydney. The total distance is about 1,150 miles. Following are the delays: Adelaide to Aldgate (12½ miles)—H. R. Paine, E. P. Mariner. Aldgate to Strathalbyn (22½ miles)—G. Baulderstone, R. Bates. Strathalbyn to Langhorne's Creek, (10 miles)—J. Dodd, J. Collett. Langhorne's Creek to Wellington (20 miles) —G. Schemmel, A. Norman. Wellington to Meningie (26 miles)—A. J. Chilton, J. Taylor. Meningie to Wood's Wells (27 miles)—W. Trosser, W. F. Norman. Wood's Wells to gate at end of 9 miles—Claypan or Coorong (24 miles)—J. Myren, L. Wilks. Claypan gate to 22-mile post, in Coorong (30 miles)—A. R. Smith, J. C. Smith. 22-milepost into Kingston (22 miles)—S. G. Barber, A. H. Backler. Kingston to Robe (26 miles) —C. Campbell, A. Campbell. Robe to Beachport Junction (24 miles)—G. A. Nitschke, R. G. Redford. Beachport Junction to Furner (23 miles)—A. Allen, T. Hodgson. Furner to Snuggrery (22¼ miles)—H. Lehmann, W. Leggett.

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Snuggery to The Springs (13¾ miles)—G. Kilsby, A. Johnston. The Springs to Glenburnie (14 miles)—G. H. Gilbert, M. Deed. Glenburnie to Ardno, Victoria (13 miles)—S. C. Virgo, P. A. Ryan. Ardno to Strathdownie (Cain's, home stead), (12 miles)—J. Sylvester, W. Gill. Strathdownie to Casterton (17 miles)—L. P. Malee, J. G. Malee. Casterton to Coleraine (19 miles)— A. O. Berkefeild, G. Gill. Coleraine to Hamilton (22 miiles)—C. F. Rischenback, J. Boak. Hamilton to Dunkeld (20 miles)—G. Pendlebury, E. Pendlebury. Dunkeld to Wickliffe (23 miles)—L. Myers, J. Myers. Wickliffe to Streatham (30 miles)—W. J. Sim, H. W. Sim. Streatham to Shipway (17 miles)—C. S. Gange, R. H. Gange. Skipton to Snake Valley (15 miles)—M. C. Reid, E. Jamie- son. Snake Valley to Ballarat (20½ miles)—W. E. Doherty, F. Sarah. Ballarat to Gordons (16 miles)—F. Pfundt, C. Plunkett. Gordons to Myrniong (13¾ miles)—J. Crick, C. Reynolds. Myrniong to Anthony's Cutting (12 miles)—C. F. Munro, L. L. Paterson. Anthony's Cutting to Rockbank (9¾ miles)—D. Daniels, E. Seacombe. Rockbank to Melbourne (18 miles)—J. Tebbs, W. Rennie. Melbourne to Campbellfield (10 miles)— D. Kirkhair, A. C. Colvin. Motor Cycle Division Adelaide to Strathalbyn (26 miles)—H. K. Ragless, N. K. Torode. Strathalbyn to Wellington (30 miles)—J. H. Gilbert, A. B. Carnwell. Wellington to Meningie (28 miles)—C. Richards, F.R. Limb. Meningie to Wood's Wells Sand Drift (28½ miles)—C. R. Churchward, T. Rugless.

Wood's Wells Sand Drift to Claypan Gate, Coorong; (21¼ miles)—A. Moyle, W. Courtenay. Claypan Gate to Kingston (42 miles)—W. H. Davey, F. Head. Kingston to Furner (72 miles)—G. Fitzgerald, T. Haig. Furner to Mount Gambier (46 miles)—C. H. Friedricks, G. E. Kilsby. Mount Gambier to Strathdownie (Cain's homestead), (29 miles)—H. G. Collins, A. M. Brown Strathdownie to Coleraine (36 miles)—H. Jackson, F. Simpson. Coleraine to Wickliffe (65 mike)— D. D. Riley, B. C. Nayler. Wickliffe to Ballarat (72½ miles)—S. Walker, P. Snow. Ballarat to Melboune (69 miles)—H. Jenkins, F. G. Paape. Motor Car Division Adelaide to Mount Gambier (303 miles)—Harold Bowman and Murray Aunger. Mount Gambier to Melbourne (271 miles)—G. G. White, C. B. Kellow and J. W. Moffat.

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Melbourne to Sydney – SMH Saturday 30 March 1912 MILITARY DESPATCH RIDE

Following are the \ names and sections of tho cyclists, motor-cyclists, and motorists who will carry the military despatch from Melbourne to Sydney in the Adelaide to Sydney-military despatch ride, organised by the Dunlop Company, to start at S a.m. on Good Friday from Adelaide. The race is n test as to whether the bicyclist, motor cyclist, or the motor car driver acting in relays is the best method of carrying urgent messages overland when all rail- way and telegraphic communication is stopped. The first despatch for the relay riders and drivers will be handed over by Lieutenant-Colonel H. Le Messurier, commandant of the South Australian forces at Adelaide (S.A.), to b* delivered to Brigadier-General Gordon, C.B., commandant of the New South Wales military forces it Sydney. Tho distance from Adelaide to Sydney means that the couriers, whether on bicycle, motor cycles, or motor cars, have to cover 1150 miles. Given fine weather, it is anticipated that' the cyclists will accomplish the trip in about 6*> hours, the motor-cyclists in about 40 hours, and the carists somewhere about 43 hours. The couriers for tile Melbourne-Sydney half of the route-a distance of about 575 miles:

BICYCLE DIVISION.

Campbellfield to Beveridge (14 miles).-C ' W. Bell A. 0. Pritchard.

Beveridge to Kilmour (13 miles).-N. H. Galsworthy, A. AV. Moore.

Kilmour to Tallarook (18} miles).-C H. Honcycombe, A. Blanchflower.

Tallarook to Avenel (18} miles).-AT. Anderson, R. Fontana.

Avenel to Longwood (10} miles).-P. Halsel1, M. L. Fontana.

Longwood to Balmattum (15 miles).-0. Snell, J, G, Snell.

Balmattum to Baddaginnie (l63 miles).-O. AV. O'Donnell, J. M. Brodln.

Baddaginnie to Winton (131 miles).-R. Cox, N. J.

Cox.

AVinton to Wangaratta (17j miles).-D. T. Cupplcs, J.

Ledger.

Wangaratta to Springhurst (10*. miles).-L. G. Plum,

S. S. Plum.

Springhurst to Barnawartha (14} miles).-A. A. Plum,

' A. J. Plum.

Barnawartha to Albnry (17} miles).-W. E. Matthew»,

C. L. AVigg.

Albury to Mullengandra (201 miles).-0. Hempel, ,T.AV. Barrow.

Mullengandra to Germanton (171 miles).-R. S. Yaskis, 0. S. Brown.

Germanton to Billabong (17 miles).-A. ( Morris, J.Holloway.

Billabong to Kyeamba P.O. (12 miles).-C. B. Chitts, J. li. Chitts.

Kyeamba P.O. to Upper Tarcutta, (15 miles).-0, J. Chitts, R. AV. Chitts.

Upper Tarcutta to Hillas Creek (13 miles).-O. Bennett, C li. Buckley.

Hillas Creek to Adelong Crossing (10 miles).-J. D. Isaac, J. B. Elsworthy.

Adelong Crossing to Coolac (21} miles).-C. Woods, AV. AVoods.

Coolac to Jugiong (13 miles).-A. Crane, F. Young. Jugiong to Bookham (20 miles).-D. Larcombe, AA*. Lar-combe.

Bookham to Yass (20} miles).-R. Lawrence, W, Bowden. ,

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Yass to Cunning (23} miles).- T. Vallance, W. H. Leslie.

Gunning to Breadalbane (16 miles).-J. S. Lees, A. IL Gregson.

Breadalbane to Goulburn (16 miles).-F. Young, A. M'Faytlcn.

Goulburn to Marulan (19 miles).-M. Hurley, A. E. Fowler.

Marulan to Cross Ro-ds (17} miles).-J. A. Hogg, C. Shepherd.

Cross ' Ronda to Mittagong (17} miles).-J. F. Smith,

A. Murdock.

Mittagong to Picton (25} miles).-A. J. Hird, C. Hird. Picton to Camden (12} miles).-C. Cross, C. Butler.

Camden to Liverpool (20 miles).-A. Hindcs, A\*. Tap-lin, jim.

Liverpool to Sydney (20 miles).-U. Hird, P. J. Hird.

MOTORCYCLE -DIVISION.

Melbourne to Tallarook (55} miles).-O. Cook, F. Hall. Tallarook to Longwood (34} miles).-L. Sanderson, H. Okey.

Longwood to Baddaginnie (31} miles).-E. C. Tyler, A. N. Maplestone.

Baddaginnie to Wangaratta (31 miles).-G. W. Morgan, C. R. Mundy.

Wangaratta to Albury (48} miles).-P. O'Brien, A. Watts.

Albury to Billabong (55 miles).-B. Hulme, L. Arnott. -

Billabong lo Hillas Creek (40 miles).-H. O. Pannach, N. Frew,

Hillas Creek to Gundagai .(26 miles).-R. Davis, N. Pearce.

Gundagai to Bookham (44} milefl).-H. Crossley, J. AVeathcrby.

Bookham, to Breadalbane (60 miles).-H. Horton, J. Norton.

Breadalbane lo Cross'Roads (52} miles).-W. Thompson, F. 0. M'Cure.

Cross Roads to Picton (42} miles).-A. S. Turner, R. L. Paull.

Picton to Sydney (52} miles).-J. -W. Inglis, F. Scott.

MOTOR CAR DIVISION.

Melbourne to Albury (201 miles).-Tarrant Motor Co. (Knight-Mercedes), S. II. Day (Vinot).

Albury to Sydney (374 miles).-H. Knight-Eaton (Arol-Johnston), 0. Camphin (ítala).

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