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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

34th/54th Motor Airline Section, Royal Engineers


Taylor17

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Hi,

Does everyone know if the 34th and 54th Motor Airline Section were Corps units and if so which corps?

Thanks,

Trp255

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Hello

Each Corps Signal Company had one air-line section, and each Army Signal Company had two or three.

54 Motor Air-Line Section was part of XIV Corps Sig Coy from September 1916 onwards. It served in France until Nov 1917 when it went to Italy for the rest of the War.

34 Motor Air-Line Section was part of First Army HQ Sig Coy from June 1916 until Nov 1917, when it went to Italy as part of GHQ (Italy) Sig Coy for the rest of the war.

Ron

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thanks Ron.

Does anyone have a copy of the War Diaries for the above, so know the reference numbers for them?

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XIV CORPS (in France):

WO 95/919 Corps Signal Company 1916 Feb. - 1917 Oct.

XIV CORPS (in Italy):

WO 95/4213 Corps Signal Company 1917 Nov. - 1918 Mar.

WO 95/4213 Corps Signal Company 1918 Oct. - Dec.

GHQ Italy:

WO 95/4206 General Headquarters Signal Company 1917 Oct. - Dec.

The Sections did not keep separate diaries.

Ron

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Thanks Ron very helpful.

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Hello Ghost

Air-line is telephone/telegraph cable strung on light poles. Ordinary air-line sections laid and serviced these routes from horse-drawn twagons; motor sections had lorries.

You occasionally come across references to "comic air-line": this refers to using trees and other similar upright objects and fastening insulators to them to carry the cable, instead of the usual army-issue poles.

Ron

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Ron bet me to it! :D

If you search Motor air line section in Units and Formations, several posts come up with a bit more detail.

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  • 9 years later...
On 24/10/2009 at 17:52, Ron Clifton said:

XIV CORPS (in France):

WO 95/919 Corps Signal Company 1916 Feb. - 1917 Oct.

XIV CORPS (in Italy):

WO 95/4213 Corps Signal Company 1917 Nov. - 1918 Mar.

WO 95/4213 Corps Signal Company 1918 Oct. - Dec.

GHQ Italy:

WO 95/4206 General Headquarters Signal Company 1917 Oct. - Dec.

The Sections did not keep separate diaries.

Ron

Thanks Ron

Ordered war diaries if they arrive! Dont seem to have any idea there!

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34 MAL 1st Army Troops 17.6.16.  XiV Corps 11.17.  GHQ Troops Italy 18.12.17.

 

54 MAL XiV Corps 10.9.16.  GHQ Troops Italy 16.12.17.

 

TR

 

 

Edited by Terry_Reeves
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On 20/10/2009 at 11:04, Ron Clifton said:

Hello

Each Corps Signal Company had one air-line section, and each Army Signal Company had two or three.

54 Motor Air-Line Section was part of XIV Corps Sig Coy from September 1916 onwards. It served in France until Nov 1917 when it went to Italy for the rest of the War.

34 Motor Air-Line Section was part of First Army HQ Sig Coy from June 1916 until Nov 1917, when it went to Italy as part of GHQ (Italy) Sig Coy for the rest of the war.

Ron

 

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