Mule Corps: Difference between revisions

From FIBIwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Maureene (talk | contribs)
Maureene (talk | contribs)
Line 18: Line 18:
*[http://www.hmvf.co.uk/pdf/BRITISHARMYANIMALS.PDF British Army Transport Animals] Excellent article by Clive Elliott containing lots of background information about the roles played by army mules with accompanying photos and diagrams.
*[http://www.hmvf.co.uk/pdf/BRITISHARMYANIMALS.PDF British Army Transport Animals] Excellent article by Clive Elliott containing lots of background information about the roles played by army mules with accompanying photos and diagrams.
*[http://www.limbergunners.ca/html/body_history_of_the_screw_gun.html  The History Of The Screw Gun] By Colonel J.R.M. Hubel, CD AdeC BA M Ed limbergunners.ca. Includes a section on mules (scroll down)
*[http://www.limbergunners.ca/html/body_history_of_the_screw_gun.html  The History Of The Screw Gun] By Colonel J.R.M. Hubel, CD AdeC BA M Ed limbergunners.ca. Includes a section on mules (scroll down)
*[http://www.kingscollections.org/_assets/archiosgallery/57/2344.jpg Photograph of Indian troops [7 Indian Mounted <nowiki>[Mountain?]</nowiki> Artillery Bde with mules, waiting to embark transport ship at Alexandria, Egypt. No 2278. 1916] from a [http://www.kingscollections.org/servingsoldier/collection/the-dardanelles-expedition#Gallery  collection of official photographs of the Dardanelles Expedition, 1915-1916.] The Serving Soldier King’s College London
*[http://www.newrider.com/Library/How_it_Was/mules.html    About Mules c 1937] Extracts from the ''Manual of Horsemastership, Equitation, and Animal Transport'' 1937 - Published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office: London.
*[http://www.newrider.com/Library/How_it_Was/mules.html    About Mules c 1937] Extracts from the ''Manual of Horsemastership, Equitation, and Animal Transport'' 1937 - Published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office: London.
*Listen to the [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80011995 1991 interview with Francis William Geoffrey Turner] British officer served as brigade animal <nowiki>[mules]</nowiki> transport officer with 111 Indian Infantry Bde during First and Second Chindit Expeditions in Burma, 1943-1944  
*Listen to the [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80011995 1991 interview with Francis William Geoffrey Turner] British officer served as brigade animal <nowiki>[mules]</nowiki> transport officer with 111 Indian Infantry Bde during First and Second Chindit Expeditions in Burma, 1943-1944  

Revision as of 03:49, 14 July 2013

Mules formed part of the supply and transport section of armies and were particularly popular with expeditionary forces which had to travel over rougher terrain. A mule driver is called a muleteer.

Punjab Mountain Battery showing swivel gun barrel on mule

Mule Corps of the Indian Army

Prior to 1884 no permanent transport department was established in the Indian Army and animals, carts and drivers were hired locally when required. Between 1884 and 1887 a separate transport corps existed. This became known as the Commissariat Transport Department and was under the control of the Military Department.

However by 1905 a further reorganisation had witnessed the emergence of a regular corps and cadres of mules, camels and cart transport. "This now consists of 21 mule corps, 9 silladar camel cadres and 2 pony cart train cadres. A mule corps is commanded by a British officer and is divided into two subdivisions, each in charge of a warrant officer. Those for cavalry brigades are divided into six draught and four pack troops , each under a daffadar and have a total strength of 552 all ranks, with 936 mules. Those for use wih other arms are divided into nine pack troops, each under a daffadar, and have a total strength of 388 of all ranks with 840 mules. Cadres of mule corps are commanded by a British Officer and maintain practically the full number of supervising and artificer establishments. They have, however, a much smaller number of mules." [1]

Fibiwiki article on Mountain Guns describes the artillery that could be carried by mules

The mule corps played an integral part in the various theatres of war during the First World War such as France, Gallipoli, Egypt and Basra.

Records

page from 1905 Indian Army List showing entries for Mule corps

Details of where the individual sections of the Mule Corps were based each year are included in the annual Indian Army Lists under the section entitled "Supply and Transport Corps". (An example page from 1905 is shown).

External links

Historic books online

References