Fitzpatrick, Jim. The Bicycle in Wartime: An Illustrated History. Washington, DC: Brassey's, 1998

ISBN 1-57488-157-4
241 pages

Preface; Acknowledgments; Introduction; photos; Notes; Bibliography; Sources of Illustrations; Index; About the Author.

Jim Fitzpatrick recounts the history of bikes in military service from early experiments to the Boer War to Vietnam. Among the many fascinating stories are the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps of the US Army pedaling across the American West in 1897, the bicycle-mounted machine guns of the British 26th Middlesex Cyclist Regiment, and the "Zariba" tactical formation of infantrymen surrounded by their bikes to protect against cavalry charges.

Just under 50 pages are devoted to bicycles during World War II. Fitzpatrick covers bikes in use by the Germans, Soviets, and Japanese in particular with much coverage of the bike-led conquest of Malaya. There is also a section on folding bikes used by the British during the Normandy landings. Nearly as much attention is given to domestic use of bicycles during the war.

The whole is lavishly illustrated with photos. Pictures of the early bikes and riders are probably the most interesting, but in the WWII section we also see "German bicycle-mounted gas detection unit", "German mountain troops evacuating Oslo", and "A bicycle generator used to silently recharge batteries for the Dutch Resistance" among many others.

Not exactly a heavy-weight contender, but full of fascinating glimpses of an off-beat topic.

Available from online booksellers, local bookshops, or directly from Brassey's.

Thanks to Brassey's for providing this review copy.