Although the RCT was only formed a few years ago the history of the corps dates back to 1794 and the Royal Waggoners. A brief history of its development since 1794 is set out in this short précis.The Royal Waggoners 1794 ? 1795The Royal Waggoners were formed on 7 March 1794 to serve with the forces of the Duke of York in Europe and were the first uniformed transport corps in the British Army. They disbanded in 1795.The Royal Waggon Train 1799 ? 1833Reformed on 14 August 1799 as the Royal Waggon Corps under Lieutenant Colonel Digby Hamilton, the Corps was redesignated the Royal Waggon Train in 1802. The Corps served throughout the Napoleonic wars and was awarded two battle honours, ?PENINSULA? and ?WATERLOO?. The Royal Waggon Train was disbanded on 10 July 1833.The Land Transport Corps 1855 ? 1857On 24 January 1855 The Land Transport Corps was formed for the Crimea War although it only existed for 22 months. The Military Train 1856 ? 1869In March 1857 The Land Transport Corps was re-designated The Military Train. The 1st Battalion served in the second China war and was awarded two Battle Honours, ?TAKU FORTS? and ?PEKING?. The 2nd Battalion was in India during the Indian Mutiny and was given the Battle Honour ?LUCKNOW? and two privates, Michael Murphy and Samual Morley were awarded the Victoria Cross.The Army Service Corps 1869 ? 1881In order to co-ordinate the supply and transport systems, The Army Service Corps was formed in 1869, and so bears a direct link between supplies and transport which was to last for almost 100 years. It was in 1879 that Acting Assistant Commissary James Dalton was awarded the Victoria Cross for his brave action at Rorkes Drift in the Zulu War. Dalton served in the Commissariat and Transport Department, which formed part of the Army Service Corps.Commissariat and Transport Corps 1881 ? 1886In 1881 The Army Service Corps became the Commissariat and Transport Corps and it was at this time that the companies that dealt with ordnance stores formed a new department, The Ordnance Stores Department, one of the forerunners of the RAOC. Although the Commissariat and Transport Corps only lasted six years it was tested in battle, in the campaigns in Egypt and the Sudan.The Army Service Corps 1889 ? 1965The Army Service Corps was reformed in 1889 but unlike the previous ASC, was vested with all the functions; Command, Control, Staff, Transport and Supply. Between 1891 and 1893 the War Department Fleet and the Corps of Military Staff Clerks were absorbed into the Corps. The ASC served successfully throughout the Boar War and two World Wars and it was to mark the Corps widespread service and devotion to duty in the First World War that King George V granted the ASC the prefix ?Royal? on 25 November 1918. It was also during the First World War that two Corps members 2nd Lieutenant Herring and Pte Masters were both awarded the Victoria Cross. The Corps strength in both world wars increased dramatically. For example in 1939 the strength was 10,000 but expanded to 335,000 by 1945. One soldier in every ten wore an RASC Cap Badge. In 1946 Driver Hughes was awarded the George Cross whilst serving in Hong Kong. He lost his life while trying to put out a fire on his vehicle, which contained explosives and petrol, when in a crowded street. The Corps also served gallantly during the Korean War 1950 ? 1953 where it formed part of a Commonwealth Force.Royal Corps of Transport 1965 ? 1993The Royal Corps of Transport was formed on 15 July 1965 from the Royal Army Service Corps and Movement and Transportation elements of the Royal Engineers. The widespread range of roles within the Royal Corps of Transport included Driver Trade, Radio Operator, Air Despatch, Tank Transporter, Port & Maritime, Railway Sqn, and Transport and Movements, which is where the term by Land, Sea and Air originates from. The RCT has served in Theatres such as Northern Ireland, The Falklands War, Cyprus and more recently the Gulf War where 75% of RCT soldiers served.The Royal Corps of Transport disbanded in 1993 and formed part of The Royal Logistics Corps.
The Royal Corps of Transport
A Short History:
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