 |
 |
 |
|
| |
ASC officers |
Transport wagon |
|
In his despatch of 2nd April 1901 Lord Roberts says: "To do justice to
the excellent work done by the Army Service Corps during the war, and to
give lengthy details of the magnitude of the task assigned to this
department, are beyond the limits of a paragraph in a despatch. It is,
however, estimated that since the war began, and up to the 30th October
1900, the approximate number of rations issued to the army operating from
the Cape Colony north of the Orange River has been—
| |
Nr of rations |
Approx tonnage |
| Soldiers and natives |
45,000,000 |
90,000 |
| Animals |
20,000,000 |
100,000 |
The strength has been approximately-
| |
Nr |
Req'd daily tons |
| Soldiers and natives |
179,000 |
358 |
| Animals |
93,000 |
465 |
Lord Roberts points out the difficulty of getting up supplies by trains,
and says, "Again the supply of the army after leaving Bloemfontein was a
matter of very grave anxiety, and it was only by the devotion and zeal of
the Army Service Corps officers that the supplies were brought from the
rail-head to the troops in sufficient time to supply their daily wants".
After mentioning the fact that until September 1900 the army was dependent
on 95 old engines, while the Orange River Colony and Transvaal found in
peacetime 250 engines were necessary for their daily use, Lord Roberts says:
"In the above I have only referred to the work done in supplying the troops
based on the Cape Colony. The Natal Army has reason also to be
entirely satisfied with the manner in which it has been supplied, and the
occasions have been rare when any portion of this army have had anything but
full rations. These services reflect the greatest credit on Colonel W
Richardson, CB, and Colonel E W D Ward, CB, directors of supplies, and the
Army Service Corps serving under them".
General Buller in his final despatch, under "Supply", speaking of Colonel
Morgan, ASC, says: "Has been throughout in charge of the supply of the Natal
Field Force. In addition to undertaking the extremely onerous duties
of supply, he also charged himself with the supervision of the Natal Field
Force canteen, an institution which proved the greatest possible boon to all
officers and men, and which, under his able direction, supplied the best
possible goods at the lowest possible rates. Colonel Morgan's
arrangements for it were admirable, and will, I hope, be made a model for
use on any future occasion. The advantages to the soldier of being
able to spend his money regularly on luxuries, which afford him a change
from his daily rations, however good that ration may be, are indescribable".
Every one who had friends in the Natal Field Force has heard the praises of
Colonel Morgan's canteen.
An admirable account of the work of the Army Service Corps, instructive
alike to soldiers or civilians, is found in Sir Wodehouse Richardson's '
With the Army Service Corps in South Africa.' London, 1903.
If any lesson is to be learnt by the Army Service Corps, it is that they
must use all legitimate influence to see that the escorting of convoys be
not considered a matter of form. It is just possible that the mobility
of the army and its power for striking hard and fast were seriously
diminished by the loss of the convoy on 13th February 1900; indeed this is
borne out by many witnesses before the War Commission. Other convoys
were lost, but this was an example of the inadequacy of an escort having
serious results. Nothing seems to encourage an enemy more than the
knowledge of the fact that he has stolen his opponent's dinners. Of
course the difficulty of conveying and guarding supplies by waggon to
outlying towns and posts was inconceivably great, and indeed it was found
necessary to evacuate many towns because the convoys to them could not be
protected. In what is absolutely their own department the Corps seem
to have had little to learn, even at the commencement of the campaign.
In addition to honours conferred on Colonel Richardson, Colonel Ward, and
the other principal officers, the mentions gained by the Corps in the chief
despatches are as follows:—
By Sir George White— Despatch of 2nd December 1899; 1 officer and 1 NCO and
men. Despatch of
23rd March 1900; 4 officers and 15 NCOs and men.
In speaking of Colonel Ward Sir George White said: "As the siege continued
and the supply difficulties constantly increased, Colonel Ward's cheerful
ingenuity met every difficulty with ever fresh expedients. He is
unquestionably the very best supply officer I have ever
met, and to his resource, foresight, and inventiveness the successful
defence of Ladysmith for so long a period is very largely due".
| |
Officers |
NCOs and men |
| General Buller - 30 March 1900 |
31 |
18 |
| General Buller - Final Despatch 30th March 1900 |
26 |
35 |
| Lord Roberts - 31st March 1900 |
8 |
2 |
| Lord Roberts - Final Despatch |
55 |
78 |
| Lord Kitchener - Various despatches |
16 |
10 |
| Lord Kitchener - Final Despatch |
24 |
46 |
