"Wearing as they do the uniform of the Queen, they are under an
obligation to conduct themselves in a manner which shall never
bring that uniform into disrepute." Post Office statement on Boy
Messengers' behaviour, 1892 In 1870, the Post Office took over
control of Inland Telegraphs from the railways and private
telegraph companies. Many of the boys employed to deliver
telegrams transferred to the Post Office. In 1897, the radius
for free delivery of telegrams was increased from one to three
miles. The Post Office Engineer-in-Chief's Office purchased 100
pedal bicycles for telegram messengers and postmen. In 1915,
morning exercise was added to the drill routine already being
carried out by messengers, to keep them fit for their work. The
image below shows Boy Messengers performing their exercises in
regimented rows. It seems unlikely that exercise would have felt
very different from their military-style drill. By 1921, the
Post Office thought that they were recruiting a 'better type of
boy'. As a consequence,