Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team
Encyclopedia
The Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team (RSMDT), also known as the White Helmets, is a group of serving soldiers from the Royal Corps of Signals
of the British Army
, who give public displays of motorcycling
skills, acrobatics
and stunt riding. The team is based at the home of the Royal Signals at Blandford Camp
in Dorset
.
, beginning in 1927. Riders were normally employed as despatch rider
s. They have had many names in the past including 'The Red Devils', before the Parachute Regiment team of the same name existed, Mad Signals (on account of the poor brakes on the motorcycles) and only adopted the name 'White Helmets' in 1963.
s are ceremonially presented to successful new recruits by the Signal Officer-in-Chief. The remainder of the summer is spent touring, giving public performances at events throughout the United Kingdom and abroad.
TR7V Tiger motorcycles.
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, who give public displays of motorcycling
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
skills, acrobatics
Acrobatics
Acrobatics is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination. It can be found in many of the performing arts, as well as many sports...
and stunt riding. The team is based at the home of the Royal Signals at Blandford Camp
Blandford Camp
Blandford Camp is a military base comprising some 390 hectares of downland lying 2 miles north-east of Blandford Forum in the county of Dorset in southern England....
in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
.
Origins
The team's origins lie in precision motorcycling and horseriding demonstrations given by instructors and students from the British Army Signal Training Centre in YorkshireYorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, beginning in 1927. Riders were normally employed as despatch rider
Despatch rider
A despatch rider is a military messenger, mounted on horse or motorcycle.Despatch riders were used by armed forces to deliver urgent orders and messages between headquarters and military units...
s. They have had many names in the past including 'The Red Devils', before the Parachute Regiment team of the same name existed, Mad Signals (on account of the poor brakes on the motorcycles) and only adopted the name 'White Helmets' in 1963.
Today's team
Today's team consists of 30 soldiers, all volunteers from within the Royal Signals. New members begin with two weeks' induction in November and the whole team spends the winter learning routines and stunts, culminating in an opening display in April where white motorcycle helmetMotorcycle helmet
A motorcycle helmet is a type of protective headgear used by motorcycle riders. The primary goal of a motorcycle helmet is motorcycle safety - to protect the rider's head during impact, thus preventing or reducing head injury or saving the rider's life...
s are ceremonially presented to successful new recruits by the Signal Officer-in-Chief. The remainder of the summer is spent touring, giving public performances at events throughout the United Kingdom and abroad.
Dress and equipment
Team members wear a tailored blue uniform and open-face white motorcycle helmets, and ride 750cc Millennium TriumphTriumph Motorcycles Ltd
Triumph Motorcycles Ltd is the largest surviving British motorcycle manufacturer, which was established in 1984 by John Bloor after the original manufacturer Triumph Engineering went into receivership...
TR7V Tiger motorcycles.