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<blockquote> FIRST WORLD WARBurma contributed five Mechanical Transport Companies to the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force during the [[First World War]].
THE BURMA MECHANICAL TRANSPORT COMPANIESIn April 1919, the Burma Companies were as follows<ref name=WO>The National Archives War Diary WO 95/5007/1. This diary appears to end c April 1919.</ref>:
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PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The '''Burma Mechanical Transport Companies''', [[Royal Army Service Corps]].
Noel Clark from Victoria, Australia has kindly provided the following information about research he carried out, and the following page is largely based on information he has summarised, or copies of documents he has provided.
:'''1023''' (Burma contributed five Mechanical Transport Companies to the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force] M T Coy RASC (No 1 Burma MT Company) disembarked at Basrah 18 1 18:'''1024''' (Burma] M T Coy RASC (No 2 Burma MT Company) disembarked 1.7.18:'''784''' (Burma) M T Coy RASC (No 3 Burma MT Company) disembarked 30.1.19:'''1017''' (Burma) M T Coy RASC (No 4 Burma MT Company) disembarked 18.3.19:'''1015''' (Burma) M T Coy RASC (No 5 Burma MT Company) disembarked 2.4.19
No 5 Burma MT Company took over the duties and equipment of an existing Mechanical Transport Company, whose previous personnel were then demobilised, and it appears likely this was also the situation with No 3 Burma MT Company, and No 4 Burma MT Company ==No. 1 Burma M.T. Company==Noel Clark has provided the following summary.<blockquote> "No. 1 Burma M.T. Company (No. 1 Burma Ford Van Company, 1023 M.T. Company A.S.C., No. 1023 (Burma) M.T. Company R.A.S.C.)
The first Burma unit was formed in Rangoon in November and December 1917. It departed from the depot in Rangoon on 5th January 1918 and embarked for Bombay under the command of Major Reginald Willows Hildyard MARRIS with Captain Guy LYNN as Workshops Officer; LYNN took over as Commanding Officer on 3rd September 1918. Officers received commissions in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers. One third of the drivers for this unit were Indians and the remainder Burmese. The unit re-embarked at Bombay on HM Hospital Transport Bamora on 11th January 1918, disembarked at Basra on 18th January with a total strength of five British officers, 23 British other ranks, and 200 Indian other ranks (the latter including the Burmese), and went into camp at Makina to continue training until 13th February 1918.
Major Thomas COUPER took command of the unit on 16th June 1919. On 25th July the unit moved to Fathah, and then again on 24th September to Bagdad, which it reached two days later. Here the unit prepared for demobilization. The final entry in the War Diary is for 30th November 1919.
Officers and men who served with the Company in theatre prior to 11th November 1918 were awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Those who were with the unit at Kirkuk in May-June 1919 were awarded the General Service Medal (1918) with Kurdistan Clasp. A small number also qualified for the Iraq clasp, indicating that they saw service after 10th December 1919".</blockquote> ==No 5 Burma MT Company== 1015 (Burma) M T Company RASC (No 5 Burma MT Company) After leaving Rangoon, the unit had undergone a course of instruction at No. 1 M. T. Training School at Rawal Pindi. They disembarked at Basrah 2.4.19, under the command of Major WT Liddell, IARO, with a strength of 6 BOs [British Officers], 10 BORs, [British Other Ranks] 199 IORs (Burmese) [Indian Other Ranks] and 11 followers. The Company took over the material, duties and number of 1015 Company, stationed at Shargat on the Tigris, for work on the Mosul L of C. The previous personnel of 1015 Company were demobilized. The previous personnel included both BORs and IORs. <ref name=WO/>
==References==
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