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The Army Service Corps can be traced back to the Corps of Waggoners formed in 1794. The main role of the ASC was transport, they were responsible for the movement of all supplies required by the Army, including food, fuel, ammunition, horses, clothing and equipment. During the Great War supplies were moved by horse drawn, steam and motor powered vehicles as well as by rail and waterways. The abbreviation MT stands for Motorized Transport and HT for Horse Transport.
The Army Service Corps was organised into Companies and provided men for the Divisonal Train, Divisional Supply Column and Divisional Ammunition Park for each Division of the British Army. The Remounts Service was responsible for the supply of trained horses, whilst the Labour Corps provided men skilled in manual labour, who under took tasks such as loading and unloading supplies from trains and ships. The Pioneer Battalions took care of repairing roads and railways and army buildings.
The Army Service Corps numbered over ten thousand officers and a third of a million men, as well as employing huge numbers of labourers from China, India and Africa along with locals.
The Army Service Corps became The Royal Army Service Corps in 1918 and their decendant unit today is the Royal Logistic Corps.
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My sister Irene and I are looking for a photo of our Grandfather, or any information about him, as we have never seen him. The photographs that existed of him have long been lost. His name was J. H. Bray, we think the J. H. stood for John Henry. The reason we are asking is that we have found a medal that belonged to him. Printed on one side of the medal are the words "THE GREAT WAR OF CIVILISATION 1914 - 1919" and the other side is what seems to be an Angel. Round the edge of the medal are the words " M2 - 049076 PTE. J. H. BRAY A.S.C.".
Thank you for taking time out to read this letter, and in anticipation Thank you for your help.
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