May I introduce you to my Grandad Havelock Dillaway Benson!
My Grandfather was in the Royal Army Corps in the Great War!
The Royal Army Service Corps were often referred to as the unsung heroes of the great War which is a little unfair as they were greatly needed delivering food, equipment and ammunition to the front line.
Much like our couriers of today delivering essentials to us during the lock down and of course also taking risks along the way.
We are very grateful to the delivery drivers of today, indeed valuing these roles now more than ever as I am sure the soldiers on the front line were so pleased to see deliveries of food and clothing.
One thing that Covid has taught us is to value those who give great service and those roles that we may not have considered so important before Covid, we now see just how vital they are and we respect our community workers so much more and give thanks for them in helping us to continue our lives in most respects.
So to the Royal Army Corps, using horse drawn vehicles and motor vehicles, railways and motorways, the ASC performed extraordinary feats of logistics and were one of the great strengths of the organisation by which the war was won.
The ASC was a formation of companies and each did a specific task.
Some of the companies were under the orders of different divisions of the army and the rest were under direct orders of the higher formations of the Corps, Army or the General Headquarters of the army in the theatre of war.
The ASC were part of a lines of communication , however many of the men were not with the ASC companies but attached to other types of units in the army.
For example vehicle drivers and horse transport.
Horse transport for the ASC was the largest section, I suppose with Grandad coming from the country here, he would have a very good knowledge of horses.
Mechanical transport was also another great line of communication.
I think that Grandad did a brilliant job and I am very proud of him.
I also picture a report when Grandad slept in and was in trouble actually losing 7 days worth of pay!
Brutal!
Poor Grandad :(
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