29,551
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
no edit summary
The period of service was to be one year or less at the discretion of the Government. The formation of these two units was also reported by Major ENRIQUEZ in one of his books.<ref>''A Burmese Wonderland'', Major C.M. Enriquez, Thacker, Spink and Co., Calcutta and Simla, 1922, p. 188.</ref> However, the official Government of India publication detailing India’s contribution to the First World War lists only five Burma M.T. Companies.<ref>''India’s Contribution to the Great War'', Superintendent Government Printing, Calcutta, 1923, p. 285.</ref>
Further references in the ''London Gazette'' suggest that after formation these two Companies were almost immediately redesignated as No. 15 and 16 Mechanical Transport (Burma) Ford Van Company respectively, and became part of the Mechanical Transport section of the Indian Army Supply and Transport Corps. Lt. Jones Arthur NICHOLS (aka James Arthur NICHOLLS) was appointed O.C. No 15 Coy from 15th August 1919 with Lt. Robert Smith McWHINNIE as his Workshops Officer from 12th July 1919 to 17th December 1919, and Captain A. H. HILL was appointed O.C. No. 16 Coy from 18th July 1919 with 2/Lt. Bernard Chevalion CHASE as his Workshops Officer from 6th August 1919.<ref> ''London Gazette'', 31870, 20th April 1920, p. 4582.</ref>
It is not known whether these units continued to use Burmese personnel, or if they did so for how long. Acting Captain J. R. R. CLARKE was appointed Workshops Officer of No. 16 Company on 1st April 1920 (when the unit was in Peshawar), and then as Acting Major was O.C. of the unit from 26th October 1920 to 3rd February 1921.<ref>''London Gazette'', 32348, 7th June 1921, p. 4551 and 32413, 5th August 1921, p. 6176.</ref> Acting Captain Harry DUPREE was Workshops Officer of No. 15 Company from 1st April 1920 to 19th November 1920.<ref>''London Gazette'', 32257, 15th March 1921, p. 2097.</ref>
