The Home Guard Pocket Book 1942

Cyclist Trap

The best way for a cyclist is a wire stretched across a road about four feet up. If you know enemy cyclists are expected this is what you should do: Select a spot on the road, for preference in a dip with banks on either side; the spot should be out of sight for some distance in the direction of the enemy. Now cut a strand of barbed wire loose in the hedge on one side with your bayonet or tool. Draw the wire across the road and make it fast.
Rig several wires if you have time.

Now take cover within a few yards of the trap. The reason is this: when the cyclist crashes you must leap on him and seize his weapons; he is probably already ‘out,’ if not do the job for him, and try to get him and his cycle of the road and hidden. The best warning to a tank is a dead cyclist lying in the road.

If there are several cyclists let them all crash, and shoot or club them individually, starting with those who manage to pull up before crashing.

It is terribly important that we should never catch one of our own cyclists or despatch riders in a trap – it is a horrible smash at 40mph. If there are several of our men to spare it is well to post one some distance away from the trap to shout a warning if our own chaps come along.