Chapter IV.
The Second Anzac Cyclist Battalion—Training.

On the 22nd July, 1916, in accordance with orders received from the Corps, the above Battalion came into life, the 2nd Australian Division Cyclist Company and the New Zealand Division Cyclists Company supplying the personnel. It consisted of Battalion Headquarters and three Companies, each 98 all ranks, a total of nominally 15 officers, 302 other ranks.

The following is a nominal roll of Officers and Senior N.C.O. on formation:—

• Battalion Commander, Major C. H. D. Evans (N.Z.)
• Adjutant, 2nd Lt. H. K. Love, (A.I.F.)
• Quartermaster, 2nd Lt. C. G. G. Johnson (N.Z.)
• R.S.M., R.S.M. A. C. P. Hay, (N.Z.)
• R.Q.M.S., Q.M.S. C. Forrest (A.I.F.)
• Staff Sergt., S. Sergt. A. Morrison (N.Z.)
• Signalling Sergt., Sergt. W. J. P. Ward (A.I.F.)

No. 1 Company:

• Comp. Comdr. (Tem.), 2nd Lt. J. T. Steven
• Platoon Commander, 2nd Lt, C. Clark Walker
• C.S.M., C.S.M. A. C. Martis
• C.Q.M.S., C.Q.M.S. F. E. Bisney
• Sergeants, Sergt. E. C. Fox, Sergt. L. H Browne

No. 2 Company:

• Comp. Commander (Tem.), 2nd Lt. C. L. Comer
• Platoon Commander, 2nd Lt. R. W. Kebbell
• C.S.M., C.S.M. F. L. Bowron
• C.Q.M.S., C.Q.M.S. T. H. Dickinson
• Sergeants, Sergt. S. S. Ivemey, Sergt. H. F. Nunn, Sergt. F. C. Matthews

No. 3 Company:

• Comp. Commander, Lieut. A. E. Lord
• Platoon Commander, 2nd Lieut. P. C. Reid
• Platoon Commander, 2nd Lieut. H. J. McLennan
• Platoon Commander, 2nd Lieut. J. B. Jamieson
• Platoon Commander, 2nd Lieut. H. A. Hallenstein
• C.S.M., C.S.M. Carr
• C.Q.M.S., C.Q.M. Sergt. Gilmore
• Sergeants, Sergeant I Matthews, Sergeant Anderson, Sergt. McLeod.

A good deal of our time and men were employed supplying working parties at various places for the Corps, such as loading and unloading ammunition at Strazelle, traffic control on roads near by, etc.

The Company had come to Egypt without cycles, and early in August, 1916, these arrived at a railhead some distance away. Motor buses were sent by the Corps and the men went to Bac St. Maur, near Armentieres, to draw cycles, riding them back to La Belle Hotesse (the name of the village we were billetted in).

The two officers selected by Lieut.-Gen. Sir A. J. Godley, K.C.M.G., for training in Cyclist duties and drill in France, and to join the Company on its arrival, joined the Battalion at this time and were posted to command N.Z. Companies as under:—

• Captain H. D. McHugh, 3rd Battalion N.Z. (R) B, to No. 1 N.Z. Company;
• Lieut. A. H. Richards, N.Z. Pioneer Battalion to No. 2 N.Z. Company.

The organisation being completed, training was commenced in earnest. Close order drill, Platoon training and Cyclist training being the main syllabus. Field days were held frequently, in which all branches of the Corps Mounted Troops took part. Schemes were worked on where the Cavalry, Cyclists and Motor Machine Guns page break

Officers 2nd. Anzac Battalion.
Back Row.—Lt. Clark-Warker; Lt. Reid, A.I.F; Lt. Griffiths, A.I.F; Lt. Dickeson.
Middle Row.—Lt. Steven; Lt. Johnson; Lt. Garden; Lt. Hay; Lt. Comer.
Front Row.—Lt. McLennan, A.I.F.. Adjutant; Capt. McHugh, O.C.
No 1 Coy; Major Evans. C. Officer; Capt Richards,
O.C. No. 2 Coy.; Lt. Lord, A.I.F., O.C. No. 3 Coy.

Headquarters Staff, 2nd. Anzac Cyclist Battalion.

page break page 25played their part in the show, and each branch worked well in conjunction with the other.

A distinguishing colour patch was submitted to G.O.C. and approved of; a white diamond 2 inches square with a red centre 1 inch, to be worn on both sleeves.

On 13th August the Battalion made its first move and route marched to a village called Doulieu (a distance of 16 miles) where billets were secured. This move in the direction of the line was looked upon as a preliminary to some fighting and the troops became expectant. After a week in our new location orders were received to supply parties on detachment. 2nd Lieut. Comer and 30 other ranks (one Platoon) were sent to Renescure to be attached to the N.Z. Division Headquarters as runners and orderlies. This Platoon went with the Division to the Somme and was with it throughout the many hard and glorious battles fought by the Division. Another party of 65 O.R's under 2nd Lieut. J. T. Steven reported to Erquinghem for traffic control duties. A third party under 2nd Lieut. H. J. McLennan (A.I.F.) and 65 O.R.'s to Sailly Sur Lys for traffic control duty.

On 2nd September orders were received from 2nd Anzac Corps that the Battalion was to move to the vicinity of Bac St. Maur, picking up some 100 odd details of the 1st and 2nd Australian Cyclists and the whole to be attached to the 5th Australian Division then holding the line south of Fleurbaix and Sailly Sur Lys. On arrival billets were found in partly ruined houses and farms abandoned by the inhabitants. The Battalion was ordered to report to 8th Australian Brigade for tactical purposes and Brig.-Gen. Tivey employed us as working parties in the front line, repairing trenches, building revetments. Our Adjutant, 2nd Lieut. H. K. Love, was transferred to the 60th Battalion A.I.F., and left us about this time, much to our regret as he was a hard worker. It is interesting page 26to note that from the 60th Battalion, Lieut. Love was transferred to the Australian Flying Corps, received his "flying ticket," and eventually was shot down, being taken prisoner by the enemy, in whose custody he remained until the end of the War.