Burma Mechanical Transport Companies, RASC

The Burma Mechanical Transport Companies, Royal Army Service Corps.

Noel Clark from Victoria, Australia has kindly provided 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.

Burma contributed five Mechanical Transport Companies to the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

In April 1919, the Burma Companies were as follows:

1023 (Burma] 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 3 Burma MT Company and No 5 Burma MT Company took over the duties and equipment of an existing Mechanical Transport Company, at least some/most/all of of whose previous personnel were then demobilised, and it appears likely this was also the situation with No 4 Burma MT Company

No. 1 Burma M.T. Company

Noel Clark has provided the following summary.

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.

Interestingly, the War Office had allocated the Army Service Corps company numbers 1023 and 1024 for the No.1 and No. 2 Burmese M.T. Companies, but then allocated the same two numbers to two British companies formed at Bulford, England in the autumn of 1917. When the British units arrived in theatre they found the first Burmese unit already there, and this caused some hasty rearrangement of numbers, personnel and duties. The British 1023 was temporarily renumbered to 1024, and then absorbed into the MT Depot, and the British 1024 was disbanded in mid-March 1918 and its personnel sent to M.T. Company 1020 as reinforcements; the two Burmese units retained their promised 1023 and 1024 numbers.

On 13th February 1918 the No. 1. Burma unit, now unquestionably 1023 M.T. Company A.S.C., commenced its journey by road from Makina to Hillah (now Al-Hillah, Iraq), where it was to be stationed, and where it arrived on 2nd March 1918 and commenced convoy operations. Convoys carried various loads – mats (trench mats etc.), bamboos, lime, black earth, bricks, petrol, kerosene, foodstuffs including vegetables, water and ice, ordnance stores, tentage, mails, personnel and baggage.

The unit War Diary WO 95/5007 has been digitized and may be downloaded from The National Archives website www.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Officers assisting Major MARRIS and Captain LYNN included 2/Lts. George Robinson COCKMAN, Ernest Raymond ALLEN, Edwin BRUCE and Ernest Gibson FLEMING. There were various subsequent transfers in and out of the unit, and temporary attachments of personnel from time to time, and the Diary needs to be read in detail to follow these. The Diary is also unusual in that it mentions a number of the non-commissioned officers and men by both name and regimental number; one being Mechanist Staff Sergeant Louis Vernon COLATO (050206), who later became a commissioned officer.

After the Armistice of Mudros on 30th October 1918 (curiously given no mention whatsoever in the Diary) 1023 Company remained in Mesopotamia as part of the Army of Occupation. The Diary for the period 1st December 1918 to 24th May 1919 inclusive is missing. During that time command of the unit had passed to (then) Captain COCKMAN, and on 25th May 1919 temporary command was taken by Major C. N. DRAPER from 1016 Company. The unit was now at Kirkuk, where it remained until 24th July 1919. On 29th May an escorted convoy from the unit under the command of Lt. BAILLIE and on its way to Chemchamal (now Chamchamal, Iraq) was ambushed by Sheikh Mahmud’s mounted Kurds as part of the Kurdish insurrection of May-June 1919. The War Diary records that the convoy as a whole suffered a number of casualties including 15 Indian Other Ranks killed; one Burmese driver from 1023 Company was still unaccounted for six days later. Major Thomas COUPER (ex-1017 Company) took command of the unit on 13th June 1919. On 25th July the unit moved to Fathah (now Al-Fathah, Iraq), and then again on 24th September to Baghdad, which it reached two days later. Here the unit prepared for demobilization. The final entry in the War Diary is for 30th November 1919, although evidence is that final demobilization did not occur until 25th January 1920 (see below).

Officers and men who served with the Company in the Mesopotamia theatre prior to 11th November 1918 were entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Evidence from medal cards at The National Archives, London, is that these medals were issued to qualifying officers and NCOs by the Government of India. However, no cards or rolls have been located showing issue to Burmese or Indian enlisted men serving with the Company.

Officers and men who were with the unit at Kirkuk in May-June 1919 were entitled to the General Service Medal (1918) with Kurdistan Clasp. A small number also qualified for the Iraq clasp to this medal, indicating that they saw service after 10th December 1919. In this case medal rolls have been located on www.ancestry.co.uk for the enlisted men, but not for officers. One section of the “arrears” medal roll shows the period of service in 1023 Company as 18th January 1918 to 25th January 1920, indicating demobilization on the latter date.

No. 2 Burma M.T. Company

Noel Clark has provided the following summary.

No. 2 Burma M.T. Company (No. 2 Burma Ford Van Company, 1024 M.T. Company A.S.C., No. 1024 (Burma) M.T. Company R.A.S.C.)

The second Burma unit left Burma on 15th June 1918 under the command of Major George Edmund CUNINGHAM, arrived at Makina, Basra on 30th June and disembarked from Hospital Transport Aronda at Makina, Basra the following day. On disembarkation the strength of the unit was four British officers, 12 British other ranks, and 162 Indian other ranks (all Burmese). The war diary is ambiguous on whether these “strength” numbers include or exclude those taken to hospital (mainly fever cases) directly from the ship – one British officer, four British other ranks and 32 drivers – but from the names of officers given it appears that the hospital numbers should be added to the “strength” numbers. The officers initially supporting Major CUNINGHAM were Workshops Officer Captain Sydney WEBSTER and 2/Lts. Arthur John BENNISON, Claud Felix PYETT and Patrick John O’SHEA (aka John Patrick O’SHEA).

The unit remained at Makina until 16th July and then began to move via Baghdad to Hillah (now Al-Hillah, Iraq) and had set up camp at the latter place, adjacent to 1023 Company, by 26th July, and then began convoy operations despite being depleted in numbers due to sickness. The main cargo seems to have been grain, inwards to Hillah. 2/Lts. Edmond Leslie BAYLEY and Horace William TEETON were attached to the unit from the Army Service Corps, and 2/Lt. Donald James ROSS arrived from Rangoon. One driver died from cholera.

In late September 1024 Company was ordered to move to Khanaqin (now Khanaqin, Iraq), and the move commenced on 30th September 1918. Unfortunately the War Diary for October has not survived, but in early November the unit was ordered to Kerind (now Kerend-e-Gharb, Iran), which was reached in the middle of the month. The weather and poor roads hampered operations. On 30th November, Lt. P.J. O’SHEA took command of the unit on the admission of Major CUNINGHAM to hospital suffering from dysentery; CUNINGHAM died on 6th December 1918. Major CUNINGHAM”S replacement, Captain Ernest Gibson FLEMING from 1023 Company, arrived on 24th December, but on Christmas Day the unit was rocked by another tragedy, the death of Mechanist Staff Sergeant V.N. BOGLE, who suffocated after falling out of bed.

The main work of 1024 Company in January and early February 1919 was to convey supplies to Huranabad (now Eslamabad-e-Gharb, Iran), with occasional convoys to Kasrabad and Aliabad (probably now Khosro Abad and Ali Abad between Kerend and Eslamabad). Several convoys went to Takigarreh to collect supplies for Kerend and forward destinations. (Takigerrah – also Taq-i-Girreh and many other variants – was the name given to the mountain pass north-west of Kerend, later known as the Pai Tak Pass, and historically as ‘The Gates of Zagros.’)

Towards the middle of February 1024 Company began convoys to Huranabad carrying supplies, mails and personnel for the Persian Lines of Communication and for the North Persia Force. On 17th February orders were received to move down the line back to Baghdad, and after preparations were complete the move commenced on 26th February and the company arrived in Baghdad on 4th March passing Quasi-Sharin (Qasr-e Shirin), Khanakin (Khanaqin) and Baqubah en route. The unit remained in Baghdad from 4th March to 18th March 1919, cleaning and overhauling the vehicles, checking stores, receiving a summer kit issue, and general camp duties. All British ranks both from and attached to 1024 Company left on 14th March for demobilization.

On 19th March 1919 the unit left Baghdad for northern Iraq, travelling via Belad (Balad), Samarah (Samarra) and Tikrit and arriving at Baiji on 21st March. On 26th March the unit received orders to cross to the eastern bank of the River Tigris and make camp at Fathah (now Al-Fathah); it remained here until 31st October 1919. From Fathah 1024 Company ran regular convoys of supplies, mails and personnel to centres such as Kirkuk, Mosul, Erbil and Altun Kupri.

In early May there was disquiet amongst most of the Burmese drivers, questioning how much longer they were to remain in Mesopotamia given that there had been no fighting there for six months. Some 31 drivers in total refused to continue working and were arrested and taken into custody pending court martial. At least 28 were found guilty of refusing to obey a lawful command and sentenced to imprisonment. Convoys continued and on 26th May one driver was killed and another wounded in action during the Kurdish insurrection. After the insurrection most of the convoys were of supplies, mails and personnel to Kirkuk. In October 28 of the imprisoned drivers were released and rejoined the unit; 13 returned to work but the other 15 continued to refuse and were re-arrested.

On 23rd October 1919 orders were received to return to Baghdad; the unit left Fathah on 1st November and arrived in Baghdad two days later. The remainder of November was occupied in preparing the final demobilization. The final entry in the War Diary is for 30th November 1919.

Medal entitlements for 1024 Company were exactly the same as for 1023 Company. Again, the indicated date of demobilization is 25th January 1920.

No 3 Burma MT Company

Noel Clark has provided the following summary.

No. 3 Burma M.T. Company (No. 3 Burma Ford Van Company, No. 784 (Burma) M.T. Company R.A.S.C.

Recruiting started for this Company on 28th August 1918. From 4th November 1918 the Company undertook training at the No.1 M.T. Training School at Sohan Camp, Rawalpindi, India, where its Commandant, Major Richard Stanley BAKER died suddenly of influenza on 13th November 1918. Captain Thomas Garnet Henry BROWNE commanded the unit from 30th November to 9th December 1918, and Major George Chesney Nevill STEVENS took command on 10th December.

Orders to proceed overseas were received on 12 January 1919, and the Company embarked on HM Hospital Transport Bamora at Karachi on 24th January, subsequently disembarking at Basra on 30th January and going into Camp 7 at Makina, Basra. Officers assisting Major STEVENS included Captain BROWNE (Workshops Officer) and 2/Lt. John Marmaduke CONDER (Adjutant).

On 6th February 1919 orders were received via Captain LYNN, O.C. No. 1023 M.T. Company R.A.S.C. to proceed up country to Baquba to relieve No. 784 M.T. Company R.A.S.C. The unit left on river craft the following day, and after slow progress up the River Tigris due to flood conditions arrived at Baghdad on 17th February. The unit then entrained for the final leg of its journey, and arrived at Baquba on 19th February 1919.

On 4th March 1919 Major STEVENS received orders that No. 3 Burma M.T. Company was to take over all the equipment and duties of No. 784 M.T. Company R.A.S.C. and that he was to command the unit henceforth to be known as No. 784 (Burma) M.T. Company R.A.S.C. British and Indian personnel of the “old” 784 Company were to remain attached to the “new” Company pending demobilization or transfer. The changes were completed and the new arrangements took effect on 6th March 1919.

6th March 1919 also saw the final entry in the War Diary for No. 3 Burma M.T. Company and I have been unable to find any further diaries for 784 Company after this date. However, references to all five of the Burmese companies have been found in the War Diary of No. 5 Mechanical Transport Column, which was formed in December 1918 specifically to service the Persian Lines of Communication. (See below.)

Officers and men who arrived in Mesopotamia as members of No. 3 Burma M.T. Company and who had no other qualifying service did not qualify for the award of the British War Medal or Victory Medal. Most officers and men of No. 784 (Burma) M.T. Company would have qualified for the General Service Medal (1918), with either or both of the Iraq and Kurdistan Clasps; medal rolls have been located on www.ancestry.co.uk for the enlisted men, but for only one known officer (CONDER). For some reason the entitlements have been indexed as ‘7th Mechanical Transport Company.’ One record shows service with 784 Company until 15th September 1920, indicating demobilization on that date.

No 4 Burma MT Company

Noel Clark has provided the following summary.

No. 4 Burma M.T. Company (No. 4 Burma Ford Van Company, No. 1017 (Burma) M.T. Company R.A.S.C.

Less is known about this Company than the other four. It disembarked at Basra on 18th March 1919. On 14th April 1919 a detachment of this Company consisting of one British officer, two British other ranks and 101 Burmese other ranks arrived at Fathah (now Al-Fathah, Iraq) to begin driver training with 1024 Company. Training commenced on 16th April, but the War Diary for 1024 Company makes no mention of the detachment after 19th April.

On 29th May 1919 Companies 784, 1023 and 1024 are all mentioned in the War Diary of No. 5 Mechanical Transport Column, and on 30th and 31st Lt.-Col P. WEIR, Commanding Officer of the Column was summoned to 18th Divisional Headquarters to explain why 1015 and 1017 Companies ‘…were so bad.’ His explanation was that the Burmese had little experience as drivers, and his suggestion was that ‘…the two new Burma companies should go on an easier line for work.’ These diary entries indicate that by this time all five Burma companies had assumed their new identities and were in No. 5 Mechanical Transport Column. There are subsequent references to each of the five companies in the War Diary of No. 5 MT Column, which finishes on 30th October 1919.

Officers and men who arrived in Mesopotamia as members of No. 4 Burma M.T. Company and who had no other qualifying service did not qualify for the award of the British War Medal or Victory Medal. Medal rolls for the enlisted men of No. 1017 (Burma) M.T. Company have been located on www.ancestry.co.uk showing the award of the General Service Medal (1918) with the Iraq Clasp, but no entitlements have been found for the officers of the unit. The medal rolls are endorsed ‘Baghdad 14-9-20.’ This date may indicate demobilization.

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 [Line of Communication]. The previous personnel of 1015 Company were demobilized. The previous personnel included both BORs and IORs.