clivefarmer Posted 26 August , 2016 Share Posted 26 August , 2016 My father in law's service records show his trade on enlistment as 'driver' and in 1918 he was transferred from an infantry battalion to the ASC as an internal combustion driver . Does anyone know how many men with internal combustion driving skills were in the army in 1918 ? I would guess not many because agriculture still relied almost entirely on horses and ownership of cars was for the wealthy . Of course there were steam driven vehicles but the skills needed for this type of vehicle were quite different Look forward to any comments Clive Farmert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPT Posted 26 August , 2016 Share Posted 26 August , 2016 I don't know much about the subject, but when I was looking at some ASC MT men recently, I noted that the 1911 census appeared to show 18,000 chauffeurs and 6,000 motor drivers, as well as 4000 motor mechanics. I expect the ASC drew heavily from this pool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 26 August , 2016 Share Posted 26 August , 2016 My grandpa was a chauffeur before and after the war and served as an MT driver in the ASC along with many men in similar occupations. He found army MT a comedown, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waggoner Posted 26 August , 2016 Share Posted 26 August , 2016 Clive, The National Archives/MIC lists almost 147,000 ASC men with "M" prefixes. Most transport, above division level, was motorized. All the best, Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knotty Posted 26 August , 2016 Share Posted 26 August , 2016 With regards to the numbers, I have a Mons Star trio with MID to CMT/147 John Herbert Ebers, there is also a Charles Barbee with CMT/16 who was involved in a libel case, but I cannot find any reference to CMT /1. Anyone? John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waggoner Posted 26 August , 2016 Share Posted 26 August , 2016 These were prewar numbers issued to members of the "C" class MT reserve. It coukd well be that the holder of number CMT/1 did not seve during the war. All the best, Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IPT Posted 26 August , 2016 Share Posted 26 August , 2016 4 hours ago, Knotty said: but I cannot find any reference to CMT /1. Edward James Francis Hardingham, Discharged 26/4/16, para 154 (xii) which I believe was time expired. He has service papers, and he was a motor driver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 26 August , 2016 Share Posted 26 August , 2016 Driver training and testing was done at Grove Park/ To pass I think the test was done on 6 different vehicles. Going back to the OP, busses were engine driven and many were sent to France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knotty Posted 26 August , 2016 Share Posted 26 August , 2016 18 minutes ago, IPT said: Edward James Francis Hardingham, Discharged 26/4/16, para 154 (xii) which I believe was time expired. He has service papers, and he was a motor driver. I thank you sir, will have a good look tomorrow. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 26 August , 2016 Share Posted 26 August , 2016 RAMC had motor ambulances RA had gun tractors. RFC had plane transporters, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Tom Posted 28 August , 2016 Share Posted 28 August , 2016 In more modern times the ambulances with RAMC units were RASC vehicles. I do not know if this was the principle in WW1 but suspect it was and that it also applied to some of the vehicles used to move heavy artillery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 28 August , 2016 Share Posted 28 August , 2016 Certainly the ASC drove the RAMC vehicles. Interestingly [to me!] the ASC men were the only ones armed [apart from RAMC officers with pistols] and responsible for any protection of the Field Ambulance that might be necessary. This shows clearly in posed Fd Amb. group photographs. ASC drivers [horse] were also attached to infantry and cavalry units as a matter of course. They drove the heavier wagons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now