In most areas they used bicycles in some dense areas they went on foot. Telegraph boys (also referred to as district messenger boys, telegraph messenger boys, or simply as messenger boys) were uniformed young men between 10 and 18 years of age who carried telegrams through urban streets. Messages were dictated over the telephone or sent via telex, printed, and delivered overnight by first class post in a distinctive envelope guaranteed for next day delivery, rather than by messenger. The telegram as such was superseded by the British Telecom Telemessage service, introduced in October 1982. British Telecom announced on 19 October 1981 that the telegram would be discontinued, and it was finally taken out of service on 30 September 1982 after 139 years in the United Kingdom. The service continued for a few years and was briefly operated by British Telecom after it split from the Post Office. Consequently, the Post Office took the decision in 1977 to abolish the service. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s the use of telegrams had dropped significantly, with around 10 million sent annually in the mid-1960s. These were finally replaced with smaller Raleigh and Puch models.ĭuring its heyday in the 1930s, the service was delivering an average of 65 million telegrams per year however, the service was running at a loss, estimated at £1 million annually. The fleet was comprised almost exclusively of BSA B33-1 250cc motorbikes which boys were expected to ride at an average of 15 mph. However, following the success of this, motorcycles were soon introduced elsewhere in the country. This started in Leeds where boys aged 17 were allowed to volunteer for training, but only with the permission of their parents. From 1915 to 1921, morning exercise was added to these requirements.ĭuring the 1930s the Post Office introduced motorcycles. They were expected to behave in a manner befitting one who wore the uniform of the Queen, and were required to complete a daily drill. In some respects the life of a telegram boy was not unlike that of someone in military service. Many of the boys employed by these services to deliver telegrams transferred to the Post Office. Telegram boys became popular in the United Kingdom after the General Post Office took over control of inland telegraphs from the railways and private telegraph companies. In the United Kingdom, they were employed by the General Post Office in the United States, they worked for Western Union or other telegraph companies. In many English-speaking countries, a telegram messenger, more often known as a telegram delivery boy, telegraph boy or telegram boy was a young man employed to deliver telegrams, usually on bicycle. The UK's GPO ( General Post Office) Telegram messenger motorbike of the 1940s
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