History of the Wolds Wagoners Special Reserve - page 14
Image details
| Corps | RPC |
|---|---|
| Material type | Books |
| Book page | |
| Chapter head | |
| Chapter key | |
| Chapter number | |
| Full title | History of the Wolds Wagoners Special Reserve |
| Page number | |
| Publication date | 1988 |
| Real page | |
| Colour | Yes |
| Grey | No |
| Early date | 1908 |
| Late date | 1983 |
| Transcription |
MOBILIZATION, 1914 o n 5th August, the Wagoners received orders by post to report immediately to the A.S.C. Depot at Bradford. This was a hurried summons, and many wagoners, as they passed through York Station, appeared to have come straight from (he fields to the train. As might be expected, the calling up of these men eauscd a great shortage of labour on the Wold farms just when harvesting was in full swing. The Depot was far too small to accommodate this sudden influx, c o n s e q u e n t l y many wagoners, for their first few nights as s o l d i e r s , w e r e h o u s e d in neighbouring council schools, Elementary military instruction was reduced to the minimum because the Depot staff's aim was to dispatch as many drivers as possible with the least delay to the units with which they were to proceed overseas. It is believed that the first batch of wagoners to leave the Depot consisted of the smallest men, owing to a temporary shortage of the larger 12 sizes of khaki clothing. Two hundred wagoners were sent over to Ireland to join the 1st and 2nd Bridging Trains, R.E., so these drivers did not serve with the A.S.C. Within a few days o{ arriving at Bradford, wagoners for the A.S.C. left by r a i l t o j o i n t h e undermentioned horse transport companies :- 9 Coy., forming the 1st Reserve. Park at Aldershot. 30 Coy., forming the 2nd Reserve Park at Devonport. 34 Coy., forming the 3rd Reserve Park at Devonport. 20 Coy., forming the 4th Reserve Park at Aldershot. 12 Coy., forming the 5th Reserve Park at Portsmouth. 5 Coy., forming the 6th Reserve Park at Portsmouth. What was a Reserve Park? Each of the six parks was organized, into sections to carry two days' 'iron' rations with groceries, and two days' oats for one division, plus one-sixth of a cavalry division and one-sixth of the total strength of units forming Army Troops. In those days, groceries included tea, sugar, tinned milk, bacon, jam and cheese. These supplies provided a mobile reserve in case of a breakdown in the normal chain of supply from the base to the troops, as a mechanical transport link in the supply chain had not yet been tested in war. For this reason, it was essential to keep a reserve of supplies within easy reach of the fighting troops. Reserve Parks were officially designated 'Line of Communication Units,' but early in the campaign they were frequently located well in advance of G.H.Q. Broadly speaking, the mobilization of the 5 th Reserve Park was developed in four stages:- 1. Reporting of drivers from various centres. 2. Arrival of horses, chiefly from the Midlands. 3. Drawing of equipment, harness and wagons from the Ordnance Depot, Hilsea. 4. Preparation of complete turn- outs, and practice in long-rein driving in convoy. |
| Book number | R0397 |