Runners:
The origin of the runner began with a traditional story from Ancient Greece. During the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC there was a messenger soldier named Pheidippides who ran 26.2 miles to Athens to deliver important news of a Greek victory over the Persians. After the soldier made his announcement, he collapsed and died from exhaustion. Now, the modern day 25-mile race is called the Marathon, it is to commemorate the soldier and his extensive efforts for his city.
The origin of the runner began with a traditional story from Ancient Greece. During the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC there was a messenger soldier named Pheidippides who ran 26.2 miles to Athens to deliver important news of a Greek victory over the Persians. After the soldier made his announcement, he collapsed and died from exhaustion. Now, the modern day 25-mile race is called the Marathon, it is to commemorate the soldier and his extensive efforts for his city.
During several major wars in our history there were many ways to communicate. In the early days there were specific soldiers nicknamed “Runners”. These soldiers’ primary roles were to deliver critical information on foot from one command to the other. While serving, the runners had to have extensive knowledge of the terrain they were travelling on. If you were a runner during a war you had to master certain skills such as: Map-reading, speed, and precision. It was easy to tell which soldier was a runner as they wore a red armband on their left forearm.
During the Great War specifically there were more options of communication available. However, most countries preferred having runners. Radio communication was a relatively new thing in the early years of the 20th century, so it was very unreliable and technical difficulties happened frequently.
When the new breakthrough of field telephones appeared it too caused many problems. The field telephone was very difficult and time consuming to set up. During the heat and chaos of battle, there was very little time; and messages had to be delivered as soon as possible.
As such the runners were more effective compared to the commonly used carrier pigeons. However, these birds provided great use during the war, but sometimes they missed their targets. Because of this, critical information couldn’t be delivered when needed.
As such the runners were more effective compared to the commonly used carrier pigeons. However, these birds provided great use during the war, but sometimes they missed their targets. Because of this, critical information couldn’t be delivered when needed.
When being a runner your job would bring you to defy death almost every single time you were put to a destination. Runners were mainly targeted by enemy soldiers to make sure that messages did not reach their intended destination.
While being heavily targeted by enemy troops the runners had a lot of ground to cover. The average distance between the trenches and on the front line was about 150 yards. If a runner was spotted by enemy troops, they had to avoid heavy machine gun fire, artillery, and snipers to deliver their messages safely.
While being heavily targeted by enemy troops the runners had a lot of ground to cover. The average distance between the trenches and on the front line was about 150 yards. If a runner was spotted by enemy troops, they had to avoid heavy machine gun fire, artillery, and snipers to deliver their messages safely.
Riders: Motorcycle and Horseback: While Runners were very important to the war effort there were other means of communication that also did their part to help the Canadians succeed in battle. An alternative method of communicating were Riders. These were soldiers that were mounted on Horseback or Motorcycle.
Horseback riders were more common in early wars because of their flexible availability. Riders rode across deadly terrain to deliver important messages to their officers.
Similarly with Runners the Riders had to memorize deadly terrain and navigate swiftly to complete their missions. Commonly enough Riders were often targeted by enemy soldiers, and the Rider had to think quickly to make sure him and his horse would survive while being targeted and to deliver the critical information on time.
Horseback riders were more common in early wars because of their flexible availability. Riders rode across deadly terrain to deliver important messages to their officers.
Similarly with Runners the Riders had to memorize deadly terrain and navigate swiftly to complete their missions. Commonly enough Riders were often targeted by enemy soldiers, and the Rider had to think quickly to make sure him and his horse would survive while being targeted and to deliver the critical information on time.
Moving onto a different type of Rider, these specific soldiers rode on motorcycles. When in tough times during the war and there were no more horses to help riders deliver messages, they used motorcycles to transport information from one camp to another.
However, motorcycles were used more in the Second World War. As such they were still in their early stages and technical difficulties occurred constantly. The Riders had a difficult time being sneaky when using these vehicles, the element of surprise was lost, and enemy soldiers could easily spot them out because of all the noise the motorcycle created.
Field telephones were widely used during the First World War. These devices used wire lines, occasionally commandeering civilian circuits when they were available. This new advancement in technology replaced previous methods of communication such as: flag signals and the telegraph. The telephone made communication almost instantaneous. There was no longer a need to worry about loss of life when delivering messages.
However, there were new threats that effected all countries using these devices. The average telephone line only spanned 7 miles. So, each telephone could only be within that limit of each other to communicate. This prevented the soldiers from going far distances to deliver messages. When this occurred, it was easy for enemies to intercept and destroy lines of communication. For one day the average soldier repaired approximately 40 lines of telephone wire. Not only were lines destroyed by enemies they were also destroyed by the chaos of warfare.
However, motorcycles were used more in the Second World War. As such they were still in their early stages and technical difficulties occurred constantly. The Riders had a difficult time being sneaky when using these vehicles, the element of surprise was lost, and enemy soldiers could easily spot them out because of all the noise the motorcycle created.
Field telephones were widely used during the First World War. These devices used wire lines, occasionally commandeering civilian circuits when they were available. This new advancement in technology replaced previous methods of communication such as: flag signals and the telegraph. The telephone made communication almost instantaneous. There was no longer a need to worry about loss of life when delivering messages.
However, there were new threats that effected all countries using these devices. The average telephone line only spanned 7 miles. So, each telephone could only be within that limit of each other to communicate. This prevented the soldiers from going far distances to deliver messages. When this occurred, it was easy for enemies to intercept and destroy lines of communication. For one day the average soldier repaired approximately 40 lines of telephone wire. Not only were lines destroyed by enemies they were also destroyed by the chaos of warfare.
The field telephone was an exceptional advancement for military technology. However, there were some faults, it made communication a lot more efficient. Nevertheless, it was time consuming to set up and repair, but it proved its way into being one of the most efficient forms of communication in modern war.
To conclude, communication was a very important asset in any war. From running across the Mediterranean to sending men on horseback on the Italian front. Delivering messages is a key component to strategy and it must occur with great diligence and skill.
One question I will leave here. What do you think is the most efficient form of communication? Read the 2 parts of this blog and send us a comment!
To conclude, communication was a very important asset in any war. From running across the Mediterranean to sending men on horseback on the Italian front. Delivering messages is a key component to strategy and it must occur with great diligence and skill.
One question I will leave here. What do you think is the most efficient form of communication? Read the 2 parts of this blog and send us a comment!