History

Thursday it was a scorcher here in Ottawa. One of the hottest days of the year. I planned it as a rest day.

So to beat the heat, Chris and I strolled down to the new Canadian War Museum. Thursdays it's free to go between 4 - 9pm.

The museum is something to be taken in by all. I won't even try to put into words the emotions and thoughts that the displays invoked inside of me. I was blown away and astonished. Go see for yourself.

Came across this British Paratrooper's folding bicycle. Very cool.

I guess the idea was to jump out of a plane with your bike, land, unfold it and then ride into battle.

BSA - Birmingham Small Arms Company

Checkout the frame wingnut that would be tightened after the frame was unfolded and locked into place.

Found this web page dedicated specifically to the BSA air borne bicycle.

Photographic evidence shows that a few of these bicycles were carried by Commandos on raids.
On D-Day, June 6, 1944, each Commando unit appears to have had a bicycle platoon though the bicycles seem to have been discarded within a few days.
INFANTRY
Ironically the greatest use of the BSA airborne bicycle in action was by British and Canadian infantry on the invasion Normandy, France (D-Day 1944 June 6) in the second wave. Some had been used on the invasion of Sicily in 1943 by Canadian infantry (Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment "Hasty Pees" re: Farley Mowat).