Colored photo from WW2

A young Dutch boy, wearing clogs (wooden shoes), helps a Motorcycle Despatch Rider of the 15th Scottish Division HLI 'ploughing' his Ariel motorbike through a muddy road in The Netherlands, 11 December 1944. The DR was killed not long after this photo was taken.

During World War II despatch riders were often referred to as Don Rs (from phonetic spelling for D in "DR") in Commonwealth forces.

In World War II, Royal Corps of Signals soldiers carried out the role and the Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team was formed from their number.
They were also used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy, where they maintained contact with land bases and some of the riders were members of the Women's Royal Naval Service.

In the UK Bletchley Park used to receive transmissions from the listening stations (Y-stations) by despatch riders, although later this was switched to teleprinter transmission.

The British military often used Triumph, Norton, BSA, Matchless and Ariel for despatch riders, and although radio communications were much more advanced during WW II than WW I - huge numbers were produced (e.g. over 75,000 Norton 16H models).