Army Service Corps

Army Service Corps Companies

Army Service Corps Companies are complicated because many were simply designations for other units. Divisional Army Service Corps (AASC) companies provided horse transport. Other units provided specialised services.  

1st Army Service Corps Company [1st Division Train]
Formed Victoria August 1914 as Headquarters Company of 1st Division Train. Departed Melbourne Orvieto 21 October 1914
Egypt, Gallipoli, Libya, Western Front

2nd Army Service Corps Company [1st Division Train]
Formed New South Wales August 1914 for 1st Division Train. Departed Sydney Afric 18 October 1914
Egypt, Gallipoli, Libya, Western Front

3rd Army Service Corps Company [1st Division Train]
Formed Victoria August 1914 for 1st Division Train. Departed Melbourne Benalla 19 October 1914
Egypt, Gallipoli, Libya, Western Front

4th Army Service Corps Company [1st Division Train]
Formed New South Wales August 1914 for 1st Division Train. Departed Newcastle Boonah 21 October 1914
Egypt, Gallipoli, Libya, Western Front

5th Army Service Corps Company
Formed Queensland August 1914 and attached to 1st Light Horse Brigade. Departed Brisbane Omrah 24 September 1914. Disbanded March 1916.
Egypt, Gallipoli

6th Army Service Corps Company
Formed Australia September 1914 and attached to 2nd Light Horse Brigade. Departed Sydney Port MacQuarie 21 December 1914. Disbanded March 1916.
Gallipoli

7th Army Service Corps Company [4th Division Train]
Formed Australia September 1914 and attached to 4th Infantry Brigade. Departed Sydney Port MacQuarie 21 December 1914. Attached to New Zealand and Australian Division Train January 1915. Assigned to 4th Division Train March 1916.
Gallipoli, Egypt, Western Front

8th Army Service Corps Company (New South Wales) [First Division]
Formed New South Wales September 1914 and attached to First Division. Departed Melbourne Ceramic 22 December 1914. Diverted to England, arriving 15 February 1915 where renamed 301st Mechanical Transport Company. Moved to France July 1915. Renamed 17th Division Ammunition Sub Park and assigned to British 17th Division. Renumbered 1st Division Ammunition Sub Park April 1916 and assigned to First Division. Disbanded March 1918.
Western Front

9th Army Service Corps Company (Victoria and South Australia) [First Division]
Formed Victoria September 1914 and attached to First Division. Departed Melbourne Ceramic 22 December 1914. Diverted to England, arriving 15 February 1915 where renamed 300th Mechanical Transport Company. Moved to France July 1915. Renamed British 17th Division Division Supply Column and assigned to British 17th Division. Renumbered 1st Division Supply Column April 1916 and assigned to First Division. Disbanded March 1918.
Western Front

10th Army Service Corps Company [5th Division Train]
Also known as 1st Reserve Supply Park. Formed Australia September 1914. Departed Melbourne Armadale 20 October 1914. Assigned to 5th Division Train February 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

11th Army Service Corps Company
Also known as 1st and 2nd Depot Units of Supply and 1st Railhead Supply Detachment. Formed Australia September 1914. 1st Depot Unit of Supply departed Sydney Berima 19 December 1914. 2nd Depot Unit of Supply departed Melbourne Berima 22 December 1914. 1st Railhead Supply Detachment reorganised as 8th, 9th and 10th Depot Units of Supply March 1916.
Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

12th Army Service Corps Company
Formed Australia October 1914 and attached to 3rd Light Horse Brigade. Departed Melbourne Chilka 2 February 1915. Disbanded March 1916.
Egypt, Gallipoli

13th Army Service Corps Company
Also known as 1st Field Butchery and 1st Field Bakery. Formed Australia September 1914. Departed Melbourne Berima 22 December 1914. 4th Field Butchery and 4th Field Bakery organised as part of this company March 1916.
Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

14th Army Service Corps Company
Formed Australia February 1915 and attached to 4th Light Horse Brigade. Departed Adelaide Afric 26 May 1915. Assigned to 4th Division Train March 1916.
Egypt

15th Army Service Corps Company [2nd Division Train]
Formed Australia April 1915 and attached to 5th Infantry Brigade. Departed Sydney Afric 17 May 1915. Assigned to 2nd Division Train July 1915.
Gallipoli, Egypt, Western Front

16th Army Service Corps Company [2nd Division Train]
Formed Australia April 1915 and attached to 6th Infantry Brigade. Departed Melbourne Afric 22 May 1915. Assigned to 2nd Division Train July 1915.
Gallipoli, Egypt, Western Front

17th Army Service Corps Company [2nd Division Train]
Formed Australia April 1915 and attached to 7th Infantry Brigade. Departed Brisbane Ascanius 24 May 1915 and Boonah 26 June 1915. Assigned to 2nd Division Train July 1915.
Gallipoli, Egypt, Western Front

18th Army Service Corps Company [5th Division Train]
Formed Australia June 1915 and attached to 8th Infantry Brigade. Departed Melbourne Ascanius 10 November 1915 and Bakara 8 November 1915. Assigned to 5th Division Train February 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

19th Army Service Corps Company
Also known as 2nd Field Butchery and 2nd Field Bakery. Formed Australia July 1915. Departed Sydney Suffolk 30 November 1915. 5th Field Butchery and 5th Field Bakery organised as part of this company March 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

20th Army Service Corps Company [2nd Division Train]
Formed Australia July 1915 as headquarters company for 2nd Division Train. Departed Sydney Uganda 20 November 1915.
Egypt, Western Front

21st Army Service Corps Company
Also known as 3rd,4th,5th,6th and 7th Depot Units of Supply. Formed Australia July 1915. 3rd Depot Unit of Supply departed Sydney Mooltan11 December 1915. 4th Depot Unit of Supply departed Sydney Suffolk 30 November 1915. 5th and 6th Depot Units of Supply departed Melbourne Ceramic 23 December 1915. 7th Depot Unit of Supply departed Adelaide Borda 11 January 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

22nd Army Service Corps Company [3rd Division Train]
Formed Australia March 1916 as headquarters company for 3rd Division Train. Departed Melbourne Persic 5 June 1916.
England, Western Front

23rd Army Service Corps Company [3rd Division Train]
Formed Australia March 1916 for 3rd Division Train. Departed Sydney Persic 30 May 1916.
England, Western Front

24th Army Service Corps Company [3rd Division Train]
Formed Australia March 1916 for 3rd Division Train. Departed Sydney Persic 30 May 1916.
England, Western Front

25th Army Service Corps Company [3rd Division Train]
Formed Australia March 1916 for 3rd Division Train. Departed Adelaide Afric 9 June 1916.
England, Western Front

26th Army Service Corps Company (1) [3rd Division]
Also known as 3rd Division Supply Column. Formed Melbourne March 1916 as mechanical transport for 3rd Division. Departed Melbourne Persic 5 June 1916.
England, Western Front

26th Army Service Corps Company (2) [4th Division Train]
Formed Egypt March 1916 for 4th Division Train.
Egypt, Western Front

27th Army Service Corps Company (1)
Also known as 3rd Field Bakery. Formed Australia March 1916. Departed Sydney Demosthenes 18 May 1916.
England, Western Front

27th Army Service Corps Company (2) [4th Division Train]
Formed Egypt March 1916 for 4th Division Train.
Egypt, Western Front

28th Army Service Corps Company (1)
Also known as 3rd Field Butchery. Formed March 1916. Departed Sydney Demosthenes 18 May 1916.
England, Western Front

28th Army Service Corps Company (2) [5th Division Train]
Formed Egypt March 1916 for 5th Division Train.
Egypt, Western Front

29th Army Service Corps Company (1)
Also known as 11th,12th,13th,14th,15th Depot Units of Supply. Formed April 1916. Departed Sydney Demosthenes 18 May 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

29th Army Service Corps Company (2) [5th Division Train]
Formed Egypt March 1916 for 5th Division Train.
Egypt, Western Front

30th Army Service Corps Company [6th Division Train]
Formed England June 1917 for 6th Division Train.
England

31st Army Service Corps Company [6th Division Train]
Formed England June 1917 for 6th Division Train.
England

32nd Army Service Corps Company [Anzac Mounted Division Train]
Formed Egypt August 1917 for Anzac Mounted Division Train.
Palestine

33rd Army Service Corps Company [Anzac Mounted Division Train]
Formed Egypt August 1917 for Anzac Mounted Division Train.
Palestine

34th Army Service Corps Company [Anzac Mounted Division Train]
Formed Egypt August 1917 for Anzac Mounted Division Train.
Palestine

35th Army Service Corps Company [Australian Mounted Division Train]
Formed Egypt August 1917 for Australian Mounted Division Train.
Palestine

36th Army Service Corps Company [Australian Mounted Division Train]
Formed Egypt August 1917 for Australian Mounted Division Train.
Palestine

37th Army Service Corps Company [Australian Mounted Division Train]
Formed Egypt August 1917 for Australian Mounted Division Train.
Palestine

38th Army Service Corps Company [Australian Mounted Division Train]
Formed Egypt August 1917 for Australian Mounted Division Train.
Palestine

Mechanical Transport Companies

In 1918, mechanical transport companies replaced supply columns and ammunition sub parks in order to effect a more efficient utilisation of the available mechanical (as opposed to horse) transport by pooling it under corps control. The auxiliary mechanical transport companies were shipped to provide mechanical transport for AIF units without Australian mechanical transport. 

1st Auxiliary Mechanical Transport Company
Formed Australia 1916. Departed Melbourne Persic 22nd December 1916. Broken up to form 2nd Division Supply Column August 1917.
England

1st Mechanical Transport Company [Australian Corps Mechanical Transport Column]
Formed France 13 March 1918.
Western Front

2nd Auxiliary Mechanical Transport Company
Formed Australia 1916. Departed Melbourne Persic 22nd December 1916. Broken up to form 5th Division Supply Column August 1917.
England

2nd Mechanical Transport Company [Australian Corps Mechanical Transport Column]
Formed France 13 March 1918.
Western Front

3rd Auxiliary Mechanical Transport Company
Formed Australia 1916. Departed Melbourne Persic 22nd December 1916. Broken up to form 5th Division Ammunition Sub Park August 1917.
England, Western Front

3rd Mechanical Transport Company [Australian Corps Mechanical Transport Column]
Formed France 13 March 1918.
Western Front

4th Mechanical Transport Company [Australian Corps Mechanical Transport Column]
Formed France 13 March 1918.
Western Front

5th Mechanical Transport Company [Australian Corps Mechanical Transport Column]
Formed France 13 March 1918.
Western Front

6th Mechanical Transport Company [Australian Corps Mechanical Transport Column]
Formed France 13 March 1918.
Western Front

300th Mechanical Transport Company
Formed Australia September 1914 as 9th Army Service Corps Company and assigned to First Division. Departed Melbourne Ceramic 22 December 1914. Diverted to England, arriving 15 February 1915 where renamed 300th Mechanical Transport Company. Moved to France July 1915. Renamed British 17th Division Division Supply Column and assigned to British 17th Division. Renumbered 1st Division Supply Column April 1916 and assigned to 1st Division. Disbanded March 1918.
Western Front

301st Mechanical Transport Company
Formed Australia September 1914 as 8th Army Service Corps Company and assigned to First Division. Departed Melbourne Ceramic 22 December 1914. Diverted to England, arriving 15 February 1915 where renamed 301st Mechanical Transport Company. Moved to France July 1915. Renamed British 17th Division Ammunition Sub Park and assigned to British 17th Division. Renumbered 1st Division Ammunition Sub Park April 1916 and assigned to 1st Division. Disbanded March 1918.
Western Front

Supply Columns

These were mechanical transport units which moved supplies (except ammunition) from the railhead to the forward supply points, from whence they were carried forward to the troops by the horse transport units. 

1st Division Supply Column [1st Division]
Formed Australia September 1914 as 9th Army Service Corps Company and assigned to 1st Division. Departed Melbourne Ceramic 22 December 1914. Diverted to England, arriving 15 February 1915 where renamed 300th Mechanical Transport Company. Moved to France July 1915. Renamed British 17th Division Division Supply Column and assigned to British 17th Division. Renumbered 1st Division Supply Column April 1916 and assigned to 1st Division. Disbanded March 1918.
Western Front

2nd Division Supply Column [2nd Division]
Formed Australia 1916 as 1st Mechanical Transport Company. Departed Melbourne Persic 22 December 1916. Renamed Second Division Supply Column. Disbanded March 1918.
England, Western Front

3rd Division Supply Column [3rd Division]
Formed Melbourne March 1916. Also known as 26th Army Service Corps Company. Departed Melbourne Persic 5 June 1916. Disbanded March 1918.
Western Front

4th Division Supply Column [4th Division]
Formed France September 1917 by Australianisation of 4th Division Supply Column. Disbanded March 1918.
Western Front

5th Division Supply Column [5th Division]
Formed Australia 1916 as 2nd Mechanical Transport Company. Departed Melbourne Persic 22nd December 1916. Renamed 5th Division Supply Column. Disbanded March 1918.
Western Front

K Corps Supply Column
Formed France 27 January 1917 for I Anzac Corps. Disbanded March 1918.
Western Front

K Corps Troops Supply Column
Formed France 1916 for I Anzac Corps. Disbanded March 1918.
Western Front

Ammunition Sub Parks

These were mechanical transport units which moved ammunition from the railhead to the forward ammunition dumps, from whence they were carried forward to the batteries by the horse transport units of the Division Ammunition Columns. 

1st Division Ammunition Sub Park [1st Division]
Formed Australia September 1914 as 8th Army Service Corps Company and assigned to 1st Division. Departed Melbourne Ceramic 22 December 1914. Diverted to England, arriving 15 February 1915 where renamed 301st Mechanical Transport Company. Moved to France July 1915. Renamed British 17th Division Ammunition Park and assigned to British 17th Division. Renumbered 1st Division Ammunition Sub Park April 1916 and assigned to 1st Division. Disbanded March 1918.
England, Western Front

2nd Division Ammunition Sub Park [Second Division]
Formed France July 1915 as British 23rd Division Ammunition Sub Park and assigned to British 23rd Division. Renumbered 2nd Division Ammunition Sub Park April 1916 and assigned to Second Division. Disbanded March 1918.
Western Front

3rd Division Ammunition Sub Park [3rd Division]
Formed Australia March 1916 for 3rd Division. Departed Melbourne Persic5 June 1916. Disbanded March 1918.
England, Western Front

4th Division Ammunition Sub Park [Fourth Division]
Formed France 1916 for 4th Division. Disbanded March 1918.
Western Front

5th Division Ammunition Sub Park [Fifth Division]
Formed Australia 1916 as 3rd Auxiliary Mechanical Transport Company. Departed Melbourne Persic 22nd December 1916. Renamed 5th Division Ammunition Sub Park August 1917. Disbanded March 1918.
Western Front

K Corps Ammunition Sub Park
Formed France 27 January 1917 for I Anzac Corps. Disbanded March 1918.
Western Front

Y Corps Ammunition Sub Park
Formed France 27 January 1917 for II Anzac Corps. Disbanded March 1918.
Western Front

Ammunition Sub Park Sections

When the (Army) field artillery brigades were formed, each was given its own ammunition sub park section in order to make it self contained.

3rd Ammunition Sub Park Section [3rd Field Artillery (Army) Brigade]
Formed France 3 April 1917 for 3rd Field Artillery (Army) Brigade.
Western Front

6th Ammunition Sub Park Section [6th Field Artillery (Army) Brigade]
Formed France 3 April 1917 for 6th Field Artillery (Army) Brigade.
Western Front

12th Ammunition Sub Park Section [12th Field Artillery (Army) Brigade]
Formed France 3 April 1917 for 12th Field Artillery (Army) Brigade.
Western Front

Field Bakeries

Few amenities were more appreciated by the troops than freshly bread, especially during the Gallipoli campaign, during which the 1st Field Bakery operated from Lemnos. Each bakery could supply enough break for an entire division. In France the field bakeries set up at Rouen, from which daily pack trains were dispatched to the divisions at the front.

1st Field Bakery
Formed Australia September 1914. Departed Melbourne Berima 22 December 1914.
Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

2nd Field Bakery
Formed Australia July 1915. Departed Sydney Suffolk 30 November 1915.
Egypt, Western Front

3rd Field Bakery
Formed Australia March 1916. Departed Sydney Demosthenes 18 May 1916.
Western Front

4th Field Bakery
Formed Egypt March 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

5th Field Bakery
Formed Egypt March 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

Field Butcheries

Smaller than the field bakeries, each butchery could still supply enough meat for a whole division. In France the field butcheries set up at Rouen, from which daily pack trains were dispatched to the divisions at the front.

1st Field Butchery
Formed Australia September 1914. Departed Melbourne Berima 22 December 1914.
Egypt, Western Front

2nd Field Butchery
Formed Australia July 1915. Departed Sydney Suffolk 30 November 1915.
Egypt, Western Front

3rd Field Butchery
Formed Australia March 1916. Departed Sydney Demosthenes 18 May 1916..
Egypt, Western Front

4th Field Butchery
Formed Egypt March 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

5th Field Butchery
Formed Egypt March 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

Depot Units of Supply

Each depot unit of supply could handle the supplies for about 4,000 men, so five were required per division.

1st Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Australia September 1914. Departed Sydney Berima 19 December 1914.
Egypt ,Gallipoli, Western Front

2nd Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Australia September 1914. Departed Melbourne Berima 22 December 1914.
Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

3rd Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Australia July 1915. Departed Sydney Mooltan 11 December 1915.
Egypt, Western Front

4th Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Australia July 1915. Departed Sydney Mooltan11 December 1915.
Egypt, Western Front

5th Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Australia July 1915. Departed Melbourne Ceramic 23 December 1915.
Egypt, Western Front

6th Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Australia July 1915. Departed Melbourne Ceramic 23 December 1915.
Egypt, Western Front

7th Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Australia July 1915. Departed Adelaide Borda 11 January 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

8th Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Egypt March 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

9th Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Egypt March 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

10th Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Egypt March 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

11th Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Enoggera, Queensland, April 1916. Departed Sydney Demosthenes 18 May 1916.
Western Front

12th Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Enoggera, Queensland, April 1916. Departed Sydney Demosthenes 18 May 1916.
Western Front

13th Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Enoggera, Queensland, April 1916. Departed Sydney Demosthenes 18 May 1916.
Western Front

14th Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Enoggera, Queensland, April 1916. Departed Sydney Demosthenes 18 May 1916.
Western Front

15th Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Enoggera, Queensland, April 1916. Departed Sydney Demosthenes 18 May 1916.
Western Front

16th Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Egypt March 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

17th Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Egypt March 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

18th Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Egypt March 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

19th Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Egypt March 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

20th Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Egypt March 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

21st Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Egypt March 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

22nd Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Egypt March 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

23rd Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Egypt March 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

24th Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Egypt March 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

25th Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Egypt March 1916.
Egypt, Western Front

26th Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Egypt 2 September 1916.
Egypt, Sinai, Palestine

27th Depot Unit of Supply
Formed Egypt 2 September 1916.
Egypt, Sinai, Palestine

Supply Sections

When the Anzac Mounted Division was formed, the service corps companies that had supported them were replaced by supply sections, as horse drawn transport was too slow in the sands of the Sinai. Notwithstanding the proven inability of such transport to keep up with the mounted troops, the shortage of mechanical transport led to the service companies being reformed in August 1917, absorbing the supply sections.

1st Supply Section
Formed Egypt, March 1916. Disbanded August 1917.
Egypt, Western Desert, Sinai, Palestine

2nd Supply Section
Formed Egypt, March 1916. Disbanded August 1917.
Egypt, Sinai, Palestine

3rd Supply Section
Formed Egypt, March 1916. Disbanded August 1917.
Egypt, Sinai, Palestine

4th Supply Section
Formed Egypt, February 1917. Disbanded August 1917.
Egypt, Palestine

Miscellaneous Service Units

1st Employment Company
Formed 1 November 1917. This unit, composed of Class B personnel, was part of the Australian Corps troops. It had an establishment strength of 517, provided additional services and was composed as follows:

Western Front

Anzac Ammunition Park
Formed Gallipoli, 9 November 1915. Disbanded 18 January 1916.
Gallipoli

Anzac Tramway Service
Formed Gallipoli, 19 November 1915. Disbanded 18 January 1916.
Gallipoli

Australian Corps Mechanical Transport Column
Formed France 13 March 1918 to control corps mechanical transport.
Western Front

Main Armoured Cars Artillery Aviation Base Depots Dental Engineers Infantry Machine Gun Mounted Medical Ordnance Pioneers Salvage Service Veterinary

Page created by Ross Mallett
ross@metva.com.au
Last update 28 June 2010