21st Army Group RASC Motor Transport Companies

Discussion in 'Trux Discussion Area' started by Neil Thornton, Jan 27, 2021.

  1. Neil Thornton

    Neil Thornton Member

    Does anyone know where a listing of 21st Army Group RASC Motor Transport Companies is? What I would like is number and unit serviced (and which WE would be wonderfully). I have the number of different types but not ID number.

    In my search I found the book “The Story of the Royal Army Service Corps 1939-1945“ but with the libraries closed, its hard to have a look. Any one got a comment on it?
     
  2. Aixman

    Aixman War Establishment addict Patron

    Neil
    TNA holds a series of volumes listing the Field Force Units, several volumes listing them by arms and another batch listing them by the 5-digit "Field Force Index unit serial numbers" (WO 33/2223 to 2239).

    WO 33-2226 "Index to Field Force Units, Part II - Index by Arms etc. - A.7214-2, May 1944" shows all existing R.A.S.C. units, listed by unit type. Pages 203 to 211 list the (unspecified) "companies" by numbers, each single number showing the special type (Army Transport, Infantry Brigade, General Transport ...), Nos. 1 to 1002.

    Here will start some puzzle work, as it is not listed where they belong. Volumes WO 33/2218 and WO 33/2222 (and maybe some or all between) show "Order of battle: British and allied troops under command AFHQ". WO 33/2240 shows "OOB 21 AG".

    I have the quoted volumes as copies, raw and unsorted content, which I one day (...) :) want to sort out. I have also the book “The Story of the Royal Army Service Corps 1939-1945“, but not at hand at the moment (will take some days), so that I could look up some specified details for you.

    Re WEs
    That is my daily job at the moment. I am sorting out the WEs existing so that I could find through (if someone would ask). All in all I will be able to answer some of your probable questions. But be warned! ;-) It is an unbelievable number (more than 15,000 tables and issues). And as usual, the deeper you dig for answers the more questions will arise. Questions will be much easier than answers.

    Aixman
     
  3. Aixman

    Aixman War Establishment addict Patron

    R.A.S.C. Mechanical Transport Companies came as a brick system by that time, as you might have found already in the Trux section of this forum (21 AG). Mike (Trux) listed all the WEs of 21 Army Group which might help you a lot.
    Motor transport units rasc
     
  4. Neil Thornton

    Neil Thornton Member

    So they do exist. Being out in the wilderness (Alberta) it is hard to get to the official records, and doing this for fun makes it very hard to pay anyone.
    sounds like an interesting volume, while Some day I may see it.

    As for the book I was really wondering if it had good data (tables), or stayed at a high level.

    What a neat job you have

    Neil T
     
  5. Aixman

    Aixman War Establishment addict Patron

    :)
    Yes, indeed! (Unfortunately unpaid.)
    :)

    Having looked into WO 33/2240 - 21 Army Group, Operational Order of Battle - 15.05.1945. Probably it is better suited (and I am better prepared) to answer your questions than I was aware.
     
  6. Aixman

    Aixman War Establishment addict Patron

    Tell me your numbers, please.
     
  7. Neil Thornton

    Neil Thornton Member

    The listing of units in Trux’s Headquarters Introduction & Contents message seems to be from Malcom Bellis 21st Army Group OOB. On page 39 it gives a listing of over 100+ units of 36 types. On page 34 it indicates that the listing is “Units in higher Formations”.
    21st Army Group OOB by Alan Philson, does give the ID’s for the formations MT Companies in June 44. I have not cross check the two yet, but the shortage of MT unit ID’s surprises me.
    As with everything, any list has holes and assumptions built in, with the biggest being time.

    Neil. T
     
  8. Neil Thornton

    Neil Thornton Member

    Do want me to type the table out?
    Looking at the table it clearly says June 44, and maybe a summation of Philson info.
    Bellis’s work seems to dated to Aug 44, so I don’t know if two will match well.

    I really was hoping for a OOB (detail) after the break out and maybe when the 1st Cdn Corps Show up (Mar 45).

    Neil T
     
  9. hutt

    hutt Member

    In my search I found the book “The Story of the Royal Army Service Corps 1939-1945“ but with the libraries closed, its hard to have a look. Any one got a comment on it?
    I have a copy. Unfortunately it doesn't contain the information you seek but does have a good narrative of the RASC in North West Europe and all the other theatres and specialisms that made up the corps. A small number are identified.
     
  10. Neil Thornton

    Neil Thornton Member

    Thanks. No rush to pick up a copy now. Thanks again.
     

Share This Page