Motorcycling’s path into the military was protracted and at times bizarre. Factions of the forces knew they needed motorcycles, others were ambivalent, while the rest ranged from underwhelmed, to outright hostile. And for more than a decade, none recognised the essential roles motorcycle would later serve so well.
One of the first military motorcycle publicity escapades took place on Richmond Common, London, in 1899. And it wasn’t even a motorcycle, rather a quadricycle, but it is included here as it was based on a motor tricycle, which had more in common with a motorcycle than a car. Neatly suited, topped off with a bowler hat, Mr F R Sim demonstrated his Beeston quadricycle-based gun carriage to a modest number of military personnel and a handful of others including, fortunately for us, a press photographer.
Sim’s device comprised the De Dion-like engine (probably an MMC) powered Beeston trike with forecar attachment; however, in place of a passenger’s wicker seat, there was mounted a .303 Maxim machine gun, with further rounds of ammunition stowed below. For the photographer Mr Sim posed to the left of the machine in a mock demonstration of shooting the enemy. Whether the designer thought the quad would be driven into position for firing, or the Maxim could be operated on the move, is unknown. What is known, is one or more were sent to the Boer War, where they, along with the concept of employing a quadricycle as a gun carriage, disappeared without trace.
Soon, the Germans took the idea a step further forward by mounting guns to primitive early sidecar outfits as they appreciated their ability to
