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151 Regimnet RLC - Early years - page 2

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Corps Reserve
Material type Articles
Book page R04490001
Chapter head Early years
Chapter key R0449001
Chapter number 1
Full title 151 Regimnet RLC
Page number 1
Publication date 2019
Real page 1
Colour Yes
Grey No
Early date 1794
Late date 2019
Transcription Unfortunately for The Wagon Train an expedition to Portugal in 1827 was the last opportunity they had to serve
overseas. Few British Generals, let alone politicians then understood the idea of military logistic units. Wellingtons
influence saved the Train from disbandment in 1828 as an economy measure, but even he had to give way to
Reformists pressure in 1832.
Most of what was left of the Royal Wagon Train moved down to
Hythe in Kent, where detachments had served for years towing
barges along the Royal Military Canal. However, a few men
remained in Croydon until the final disbandment in the spring of
1833. From that date the only two Royal Wagon Train members
left in the town on their deaths were buried in the parish
churchyard, one a Quartermaster named John Kennedy had an
inscription “here lie the remains of an honest man” placed on his
headstone.
A transport corps was not formed again until the Crimean War in
1855 when the Land Transport Corps were formed. This was
renamed the Military Train the following year. The barracks
became the Guards depot until shortly after the Crimean War,
when the folly of abandoning a “Corps of Military Drivers” was devastatingly exposed. In 1859 the first volunteer unit
(2nd Surrey Rifle Volunteers) moved in, and though the last of the original buildings were pulled down in 1961, there
have been Army Reserves based at the barracks ever since. In 1869, there was a major reorganisation of army
supply and transport capabilities and in 1870 The Army Service Corps were formed.
44 HOME COUNTIES DIVISIONAL SUPPLY & TRANSPORT COLUMN
44 Home Counties Division Supply and Transport Column the Army
Service Corps were founded with the creation of the Territorial Army
on 1 April 1908. Column HQ at this time with the Divisional Transport
Company was at Brighton, Surrey Brigade Company at Woking &
Croydon, Middlesex Brigade Company at Teddington and Barnet and
Kent Brigade Company at Maidstone. The first Commanding Officer
was Lt Col A.C. Wooley VD a transfer from the Royal Sussex Regiment, and the Regular
staff consisted of an Adjutant Captain J. W. Scott and one Permanent Staff Instructor
(PSI) per Company. The first Annual Camp was held at Crowborough. The 2IC Maj A. H.
Martin TD was promoted and took over Command in 1909. Recruiting was relatively
simple with Companies having a waiting list to join by its third Annual Camp held at
Seaford in 1911.
Above: Annual Camp Seaford 1911
Bt Col A.H. Martin TD
Book number R0449