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.
