Rare folding bicycle carried by British paratroopers on D-Day goes up for auction for £8,000

Rare folding bicycle carried by British paratroopers as they parachuted into occupied Normandy on D-Day goes up for auction for £8,000

  • Bikes intended to help airborne troops cover ground quickly and quietly in 1944
  • Most of metal bikes were unceremoniously ditched once troops reached ground
  • Private collector selling bike from estate of late member of 6th Airborne Division
  • Rare bike is going under hammer with C&T Auctions of Ashford, Kent, on May 26

A rare folding bicycle carried by British paratroopers as they parachuted into occupied Normandy on D-Day has emerged for sale for £8,000.

The Airborne Folding Paratrooper Bicycles were intended to help airborne troops cover the ground quickly and quietly after they landed in France in June 1944.

They were also later used during Operation Market Garden in Holland in September 1944 to allow speedy access to Arnhem Bridge.

But the cumbersome bikes that had to be held out in front of paratroopers as they fell from the sky proved an unpopular distraction for many men.

The rare folding bicycle carried by British paratroopers as they parachuted into occupied Normandy on D-Day that has emerged for sale for £8,000, pictured above

The bike, which has a repair kit pouch fitted to the back, is going under the hammer with C&T Auctions of Ashford, Kent, on May 26

The bike, which has a repair kit pouch fitted to the back, is going under the hammer with C&T Auctions of Ashford, Kent, on May 26

One of the bikes pictured being used by a paratrooper during World War Two. Although 60,000 of them were manufactured between 1942 and 1945, very few exist today

One of the bikes pictured being used by a paratrooper during World War Two. Although 60,000 of them were manufactured between 1942 and 1945, very few exist today

As a result most of the metal bikes, made by the Birmingham Small Arms company (BSA), were unceremoniously ditched once the paratroopers reached ground.

Although 60,000 of them were manufactured between 1942 and 1945, very few exist today.

One example is being sold by a private collector who acquired it from the estate of a late member of the 6th Airborne Division.

It has the original twin tube design which connects to the leather seat, making it much scarcer than the single tube design found in later models.

The bike, which has a repair kit pouch fitted to the back, is going under the hammer with C&T Auctions of Ashford, Kent.

Matthew Tredwen, specialist at C&T Auctions, said: ‘This is a superb example of an extremely rare item of airborne forces equipment.

The weathered leather seat of the metal bike, made by the Birmingham Small Arms company (BSA), which is going on auction later this month

The weathered leather seat of the metal bike, made by the Birmingham Small Arms company (BSA), which is going on auction later this month

Most of the bikes are khaki green, like the one pictured above, but some were painted brown due to a scarcity of green paint towards the end of World War Two

Most of the bikes are khaki green, like the one pictured above, but some were painted brown due to a scarcity of green paint towards the end of World War Two

The spokes of the bike going on sale with C&T Auctions, which is being sold by a private collector who acquired it from the estate of a late member of the 6th Airborne Division

The spokes of the bike going on sale with C&T Auctions, which is being sold by a private collector who acquired it from the estate of a late member of the 6th Airborne Division

‘It is believed that approximately 60,000 examples of the folding bike were manufactured by the BSA between 1942 and 1945.

‘The majority were the later single tube design, and only a handful of twin tube examples are known to exist around the world, with many museums not having an example.

‘They were famously issued to the British Airborne Forces who parachuted into Normandy on D-Day and Arnhem later in 1944.

The chain and wooden pedal of the folding bike. Matthew Tredwen, specialist at C&T Auctions, said: 'This is a superb example of an extremely rare item of airborne forces equipment

The chain and wooden pedal of the folding bike. Matthew Tredwen, specialist at C&T Auctions, said: ‘This is a superb example of an extremely rare item of airborne forces equipment

The bike has a repair kit pouch fitted to the back. It has the original twin tube design connecting to the leather seat, making it scarcer than the single tube design in later models

The bike has a repair kit pouch fitted to the back. It has the original twin tube design connecting to the leather seat, making it scarcer than the single tube design in later models

‘These bikes were held out in front of the paratroopers when they parachuted in behind enemy lines.

‘They were a way for the troops to quickly cover large areas of ground in a quiet manner as they were behind enemy lines.

‘However many of the paratroopers found them cumbersome so abandoned them soon after landing.’

The sale takes place on May 26.

Folding bikes used by British paratroopers to cover ground while remaining undetected

Folding bikes were used by British paratroopers to cover ground after landing while remaining quiet and undetected.

Over 60,000 of the bikes were manufactured between 1942 and 1945 by the Birmingham Small Arms company.

Paratroopers could attach their rifles to the bikes and the wheels were fastened to a parachute line. 

Paratroopers held the folding bike out in front of them. They could attach their rifles to the frame and two wingnuts could be loosened to fold the bike

Paratroopers held the folding bike out in front of them. They could attach their rifles to the frame and two wingnuts could be loosened to fold the bike

Two wingnuts could be loosened to fold the bike, which troops held out in front of them, in half.

They were often ditched by troops after landing, but pictures taken during World War Two show some were kept in Jeeps or on the back of tanks.

The rarest folding bikes are painted brown, due to a scarcity of green paint towards the end of the war.

The existing bikes are either owned by collectors or displayed in museums. 

Source: The BSA and Military Bicycle Museum

Paratroopers seen with the bikes on the ground. They were often ditched after landing, but pictures taken during World War Two show some were kept in Jeeps or on the back of tanks

Paratroopers seen with the bikes on the ground. They were often ditched after landing, but pictures taken during World War Two show some were kept in Jeeps or on the back of tanks