Army Remount Service

[nhclark]

There have been a number of enquiries on the GWF about the Army Remount Service, and it seems that there is not a great deal of information around on this branch of the Army Service Corps. When I was trying to find out more about it, I certainly struggled. Mike Young's book on the ASC does not present much detail at all.

Recently I stumbled upon the following: http://sill-www.army.mil/FAMAG/1919/SEP_OC...GES_391_429.pdf

You can download this document and save to your hard disk.

Before I found this document I had always struggled with the apparently small number of men who had looked after so many horses. This document shows that many more men were in the Army Remount Service than I had previously been given to understand. For example, on page 2 you will see that 'There were 4000 horses at this depot, cared for by eight remount squadrons and two veterinary squadrons....' and on page 4 '...one man to four or five horses.'

Based on this report, the Remount Service must have been a fairly large undertaking. The key point is that each Remount Depot had a number of Remount Squadrons, not just one as is inferred in other material that I have seen.

The report also gives some interesting insights into the daily routines at the Remount Depots.

Noel

[Ron Clifton]

The key point is that each Remount Depot had a number of Remount Squadrons, not just one as is inferred in other material that I have seen.

Noel

According to War Establishments, the scale was one Remount Squadron for 500 horses, which agrees with your figures.

Ron

[steenie]

Aussienoel,

I know this may sound like I am a very sad person, but that report by the American Officer is one of the most exciting bits of information I have seen in a very long time!! If it is ok with you, I am going to put it into my clubs private site to share with our members. They are just as sad as i am and will lap it up. Thankyou.

P.S. I love the idea of a hair brand which wont rub off but will grow out on the coat. A most practical method of making sure the info on the door plate matches the horse!!

[charlesmessenger]

Noel

Very many thanks for pioiting out this fascinating document which gives some fascinating insights on the British Cavalry. Captain Renton 11th Hussars, whio is mentioned at the beginning, rose to command the 7th Armoured Division (The Desert Rats) in North Africa during summer 1942.

Do you have any bibliographical details for this report?

Charles M

[nhclark]

Gentlemen, many thanks for your favourable responses. I felt sure that there must be something, somewhere, about the Remount Service, and many hours of Googling finally brought reward.

The article was actually published in the Field Artillery Journal, September-October 1919.

The full edition of the FAJ for September-October 1919 may be found at http://sill-www.army.mil/famag/1919/SEP_OC...ULL_EDITION.pdf

A little more digging this morning has shown that the FAJ is a U.S. Army publication, and that the various copies must be somewhere on www.army.mil, although as yet I have not managed to find where they are!

As for posting it on a web-site, I would imagine that the 1919 edition is out of copyright, but it might be wise to check first.

If I can find out any more details about the FAJ etc. I'll post them. I would imagine that this journal might reveal all sorts of goodies, hitherto unknown to us.

Noel

[nhclark]

Ah, here it is! http://sill-www.army.mil/FAMAG/

Just click on "Past editions" and there you are!

Noel

[Fusilier11]

Thanks from me too! By some strange coincidence I have been looking out for info on the Remounts recently for a friend - this is just what I needed.

Cheers

Fusilier11