War Diaries Talk

Transport

  • Stork by Stork

    On the 23rd day, Lt. Hanson is put in charge of Divisional Transport, and on the 25th Transport moved to Erches. What is Transport? I've seen it in quite a few diaries lately.

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  • marie.eklidvirginmedia.com by marie.eklidvirginmedia.com

    Each Division of the army had a certain amount of motorised transport allocated to it. The ASC MT Companies working as Divisional Supply Columns.

    Each Division of the army had a certain amount of motorised transport allocated to it, although not directly under its own command. The Divisional Supply Column Companies were responsible for the supply of goods, equipment and ammunition from the Divisional railhead to the Divisional Refilling Point and, if conditions allowed, to the dumps and stores of the forward units. Used, of course, where loads were heavy. A Company initially comprised 5 officers and 337 other ranks of the ASC, looking after 45 3-ton lorries, 16 30-cwt lorries, 7 motor cycles, 2 cars and 4 assorted trucks for the workshop and stores of the Supply Column itself. All Companies served in France unless otherwise mentioned.
    Link: http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-army-service-corps-in-the-first-world-war/army-service-corps-mechanical-transport-companies/

    Transport Images Link: https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&rlz=1C1DSGL_enGB426GB426&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=Transport+Images+ww1

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  • cyngast by cyngast moderator in response to Stork's comment.

    Transport refers to the lorries, wagons, and limbers assigned to a unit, and every unit had at least some transport vehicles. These carried whatever things the unit needed nearby: Headquarters papers and supplies, ammunition, bedding, horse fodder, equipment, kitchens, etc. Generally, when the unit was in the line, the transport stayed a good distance back. You may also see that when the unit is moving, the transport may start a day earlier than the rest of the unit.

    As Marie says, there were transport units at all levels. In a battalion, it was just a section, but at the Divisional level, transport was organized into its own companies that distributed supplies as needed down through the brigades, battalions, and other units of the division.

    This page sounds like the battalion transport was moving back, and Capt. Hanson was first put in charge of a rear guard party, that then came under the command of Major Brew. Capt. Hanson then went to take charge of the Divisional transport. Was this during the German offensive in March, 1918? On the 25th, the transport referred to is the 12th Royal Irish Rifles' transport section.

    Hope this answers your questions!

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  • Stork by Stork

    Good sleuthing, cyngast- this was indeed during March, 1918.

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