Motor Volunteer Corps

[Guest dennish107]

While doing some research into a relatives life and career, I found a reference to them having served in the 'Northumberland Motor Volunteer Corps' and/or 'Northumberland RASC'. Can anyone tell me anything about them? The person I am researching is Arthur George of Newcastle, who, pre war, was a successful racing driver and pioneer aviator. He was partner in a motor engineering business in Newcastle, George & Jobling and their factory may have been used for military purposes. During WW2, the factory was used for training ATC personnel.

I would like to know if this was a home based regiment or did they serve overseas. What was their role in thew war effort, was it maintenance or transport duties?

Any help would be gratefully received. Thanks.

[charlesmessenger]

The MVC was formed in London in early 1916 primarily to transport soldiers arriving in London at night after the buses and Underground had stopped. A year later it became a nationwide organisation and part of the Volunteer Training Corps (later Volunteer Force) - the WW1 equivalent of the Home Guard. It was now used for transporting Volunteer battalions, evacuating hospitals in the event of an emergency and assisting in the aftermath of air raids. In July 1918 it became part of the ASC and was retitled ASC Mechanical Transport (Volunteers). It was solely for home defence and never served overseas.

Charles M

[Graham Stewart]

dennish,

The National Motor Volunteers, which operated as a seperate formation within the Volunteer Training Corps, the Great Wars equivalent of the Home Guard, were actually formed in 1915 and the Newcastle Squadron, National Motor Volunteers were formed in September 1915.

It was later absorbed into the 1/1st Battalion, Northumberland Volunteer Regiment as 'E' Company with the additional title of '(Motor Section)' in late 1916.

The Motor Section was removed from the battalion on 9th March 1917 and it was renamed the 'Northumberland Motor Volunteer Corps', with it's H.Q. located at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle, with Squadrons and half Squadrons located at Newcastle, Alnwick, Morpeth, Rothbury, Hexham & Tynemouth.

In July 1918(Army Order 208 of 1918) it was again renamed as 'Northumberland Army Service Corps, Motor Transport(Volunteers), and it finished the War with 10 Heavy Sections, 1 Light Section, 3 Field Ambulance Sections & 1 Composite Section. It was eventually disbanded on the 17th June 1921.

The photo shows a member of the Manchester Squdron, National Motor Volunteers.

Graham.

[Guest dennish107]

Thanks folks. The information so far has been of great use to me.

I sort of guessed the outfit was home based due partly to its title and nature, but also because of the age of Mr George. He would have been about 40 at the time.

Totally off topic, he also served (officially) as a RN volunteer in WW2 at the age of 69!

Dennish