End of an era: Royal Signals Corps motorcycle displays disbanded

Chances are, if you remember seeing a human pyramid with a group of motorcycles beneath them then it could very well have been the White Helmets – a motorcycle display team from the Royal Signals Corps.

Riding British Millennium Triumph 750cc motorcycles, the display team has been going for 90 years now, performing twice a day – five days a week and have wowed crowds countless times.

However, the powers that be in the Army decided that thedisplays were ‘too old fashioned’ for the modern military, they are now being disbanded and are currently partaking in their final tour ahead of their final show on 27 September at Blandford Forum.

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Formed in 1927, the Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team later found fame as the White Helmets. Dispatch riders would mess around on their motorcycles in their spare time as they gradually acquired the skills needed to become recognised as a display team. 

The White Helmets have traditionally toured the UK from April through to October each year, at one time they were considered to be the biggest recruitment tool that the Army had.

Don’t miss the final tour

The team currently consists of around 30 volunteer soldiers aging from 21 to 43 years old, who will be continuing in the Army after the group are disbanded later this month.

The final tour will be taking the team to:

1-3 September – Chatsworth Country Fair, Derby
9 September – Normanton Gala, West Yorkshire
16 September – Preston Military Show, Fulwood Barracks, Preston, Lancashire
27 September – Blandford Forum Farewell Ride

More information on these dates can be found on the team’s Facebook page.

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