Motorcycling 1914 to 1918

Sunday 28 June 1914

Members of Red Cross VAD at Brooklands Airfield

Nine men had set out to kill the archduke. Only two made an attempt on his life, Nedjelko Cabrinovic and Gavrilo Princip. Both were immediately arrested and, under questioning, eventually gave up the names of their co-conspirators.

Subsequently tried for treason and murder, eight were found guilty (one remaining conspirator escaped to Serbia before the trial) and three of the men were executed. Princip and Cabrinovic were too young to face death under Austro-Hungarian law and received the maximum term possible of 20 years imprisonment.

Back home motorcyclists and were considering if sidecars were a viable option and worrying about various pieces of legislation that might restrict their freedom. Nobody had any idea of the domino effect that was about to cast the world into turmoil.

The motorcycle Magazine had just published details of the Red Cross Field Day held at Brooklands Racetrack on 20 June. It was reported that the first ever Triumph motorcycle/Sidecar Ambulance was in attendance at the field day held to test the Red Cross’s ability to deal with wounded in the battlefield. The military and associated organisations had detailed contingency plans ready to be dusted off and put into action at a moments notice. These plans were regularly tested and lessons learned were added. This is why in August the Government were able to quickly assemble an Expeditionary Force and deliver it into theatre within days.