Royal Canadian Army Service Corps
Encyclopedia
For successor see Logistics Branch
The Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC) was an administrative and transport corps of the Canadian Army.
The Canadian Army Service Corps was established in 1903. The Canadian Permanent Army Service Corps was redesignated The Royal Canadian Army Service Corps on 3 Nov 1919.
The RCASC was established, by General Order No. 141, as the Canadian Army Service Corps (CASC), on November 1, 1901. The CASC was modelled directly off the British Army Service Corps to provide all transportation and supply services to the Army. Initially, the CASC consisted of four companies to support the Active Militia units. The Corps grew quickly, doubling the number of units by 1903, and growing by another three companies by 1905. By the summer of 1914 the CASC had a strength of 3000 personnel in eighteen companies.
During World War I, the CASC provided a support element for each Canadian Division, and later on, for the Canadian Corps
. With the introduction of motorized vehicles, the CASC carried commodities of a greater range and of greater weights. Motorized transportation also resulted in expanded responsibilities such as driving ambulances and engineer pontoon vehicles, carrying all natures of ammunition, and mobile repair and recovery. In recognition of the services rendered during the Great War, His Majesty King George V authorized the designator “Royal” in 1919.
The RCASC, along with the rest of the Army, underwent a rapid expansion as Canada mobilized for the Second World War. In addition to maintaining transport for the army on land, the R.C.A.S.C. also commanded and maintained a ship-borne freight and patrol company, the Pacific Command Water Transport Company, R.C.A.S.C.
, during World War II
. The RCASC provided support to Canadian Soldiers wherever they went; training in Canada and Great Britain, the campaign in north-west Europe, and in the campaign in Italy. The RCASC moved supplies from the rear areas to the front-lines. They delivered all rations, ammunition, petroleum products, and all other essentials. They did so with a variety of vehicles ranging from three to ten ton trucks, and forty ton tank transporters.
During the 1950s, the RCASC committed No. 1 and No. 2 Movement Control Groups, 54 Canadian Transport Company, 28 Motorized Ambulance Company, and 58 General Transport Company to the Korean War
. In 1952, 23 Transport Company relieved 54 Transport Company, which was in-turn relieved by 56 Transport Company. 3 Transport Company was the last to serve in Korea in 1954. 4 Transport Company (previously known as 56 Transport Company and then 5 Transport Company) moved from Winnipeg to Calgary in August 1967. In June 1968, 4 Transport Company combined with elements of the static 13 Transport Company. Three months later that organization became the Transport Company of 1 Svc Bn.
, and Royal Canadian Air Force
were merged in 1968 to form the Canadian Forces
, the administrative Corps of the Army were deactivated and merged with their Naval and Air Force counterparts to form the Canadian Forces' personnel branch
es.
2nd Armoured Brigade
1st Infantry Division
2nd Infantry Division
3rd Infantry Division
4th Armoured Division
5th Armoured Division
1st Corps Troops
2nd Corps Troops
First Canadian Army Troops
General Headquarters, Line of Communication and Base Troops
Japan
Logistics Branch (Canadian Forces)
The Logistics Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces . In April 2007, the CF Armed Forces Council decided to incorporate the Personnel Selection Branch into the Logistics branch.-Unification:...
The Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC) was an administrative and transport corps of the Canadian Army.
The Canadian Army Service Corps was established in 1903. The Canadian Permanent Army Service Corps was redesignated The Royal Canadian Army Service Corps on 3 Nov 1919.
The RCASC was established, by General Order No. 141, as the Canadian Army Service Corps (CASC), on November 1, 1901. The CASC was modelled directly off the British Army Service Corps to provide all transportation and supply services to the Army. Initially, the CASC consisted of four companies to support the Active Militia units. The Corps grew quickly, doubling the number of units by 1903, and growing by another three companies by 1905. By the summer of 1914 the CASC had a strength of 3000 personnel in eighteen companies.
During World War I, the CASC provided a support element for each Canadian Division, and later on, for the Canadian Corps
Canadian Corps
The Canadian Corps was a World War I corps formed from the Canadian Expeditionary Force in September 1915 after the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Division in France. The corps was expanded by the addition of the 3rd Canadian Division in December 1915 and the 4th Canadian Division in August 1916...
. With the introduction of motorized vehicles, the CASC carried commodities of a greater range and of greater weights. Motorized transportation also resulted in expanded responsibilities such as driving ambulances and engineer pontoon vehicles, carrying all natures of ammunition, and mobile repair and recovery. In recognition of the services rendered during the Great War, His Majesty King George V authorized the designator “Royal” in 1919.
The RCASC, along with the rest of the Army, underwent a rapid expansion as Canada mobilized for the Second World War. In addition to maintaining transport for the army on land, the R.C.A.S.C. also commanded and maintained a ship-borne freight and patrol company, the Pacific Command Water Transport Company, R.C.A.S.C.
Pacific Command Water Transport Company, R.C.A.S.C.
The Pacific Command Water Transport Company, R.C.A.S.C., was a secret freight-patrol shipping unit of the Canadian Army based at Vancouver, British Columbia, during World War II...
, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The RCASC provided support to Canadian Soldiers wherever they went; training in Canada and Great Britain, the campaign in north-west Europe, and in the campaign in Italy. The RCASC moved supplies from the rear areas to the front-lines. They delivered all rations, ammunition, petroleum products, and all other essentials. They did so with a variety of vehicles ranging from three to ten ton trucks, and forty ton tank transporters.
During the 1950s, the RCASC committed No. 1 and No. 2 Movement Control Groups, 54 Canadian Transport Company, 28 Motorized Ambulance Company, and 58 General Transport Company to the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. In 1952, 23 Transport Company relieved 54 Transport Company, which was in-turn relieved by 56 Transport Company. 3 Transport Company was the last to serve in Korea in 1954. 4 Transport Company (previously known as 56 Transport Company and then 5 Transport Company) moved from Winnipeg to Calgary in August 1967. In June 1968, 4 Transport Company combined with elements of the static 13 Transport Company. Three months later that organization became the Transport Company of 1 Svc Bn.
Unification
When the Army, Royal Canadian NavyRoyal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
, and Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
were merged in 1968 to form the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
, the administrative Corps of the Army were deactivated and merged with their Naval and Air Force counterparts to form the Canadian Forces' personnel branch
Personnel branch
Personnel branch, in the Canadian Forces , refers to a grouping of related military occupations.Personnel branches were officially established at unification in 1968 to amalgamate the old Canadian Army Corps and similar occupational groupings in the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air...
es.
- The RCASC's transport and supply elements were combined with the Royal Canadian Ordnance CorpsRoyal Canadian Ordnance CorpsThe Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps was an administrative corps of the Canadian Army. The Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps RCOC can trace its roots back to the Canadian Stores Department. Formed in 1871, the Canadian Stores Department was a civil department of the Canadian Government...
to form the Logistics BranchLogistics Branch (Canadian Forces)The Logistics Branch is a personnel branch of the Canadian Forces . In April 2007, the CF Armed Forces Council decided to incorporate the Personnel Selection Branch into the Logistics branch.-Unification:... - The RCASC's clerical trades were merged with the Royal Canadian Army Pay CorpsRoyal Canadian Army Pay CorpsThe Royal Canadian Army Pay Corps was an administrative corps of the Canadian Army with its own cap badge, and other insignia and traditions. It was established in 1906 as the Canadian Army Pay Corps. It was responsible for administering all financial matters.The Canadian Army Pay Corps began...
and the Royal Canadian Postal CorpsRoyal Canadian Postal CorpsFor successor see Logistics BranchThe Royal Canadian Postal Corps was an administrative corps of the Canadian Army. The Canadian Postal Corps was redesignated the Royal Canadian Postal Corps on 20 Jun 1961. The crest of the Royal Canadian Postal Corps consists of a horn, with a Queen's Crown on...
to form the Administration Branch (later merged with the Logistics Branch) - Until the formation of the Service Battalions in September 1968, all transportation service was provided by the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps.
RCASC Units Overseas 1945
1st Armoured Brigade- 1st Armoured Brigade Company
2nd Armoured Brigade
- 2nd Armoured Brigade Company
1st Infantry Division
- 1st Infantry Divisional Troops Company
- 1st Infantry Brigade Company
- 2nd Infantry Brigade Company
- 3rd Infantry Brigade Company
2nd Infantry Division
- 2nd Infantry Divisional Troops Company
- 4th Infantry Brigade Company
- 5th Infantry Brigade Company
- 6th Infantry Brigade Company
3rd Infantry Division
- 3rd Infantry Divisional Troops Company
- 7th Infantry Brigade Company
- 8th Infantry Brigade Company
- 9th Infantry Brigade Company
4th Armoured Division
- 4th Armoured Divisional Troops Company
- 4th Armoured Divisional Transport Company
- 4th Armoured Brigade Company
- 10th Infantry Brigade Company
5th Armoured Division
- 5th Armoured Divisional Troops Company
- 5th Armoured Divisional Transport Company
- 5th Armoured Brigade Company
- 11th Infantry Brigade Company
1st Corps Troops
- 1st Headquarters Corps Car Company
- 1st Corps Transport Company
- No. 31 Corps Troops Company
- No. 32 Corps Troops Company
2nd Corps Troops
- No. 2 Headquarters Corps Car Company
- 2nd Corps Transport Company
- No. 33 Corps Troops Company
- No. 34 Corps Troops Company
First Canadian Army Troops
- No. 1 Army Headquarters Car Company
- No. 35 Army Troops Composite Company
- No. 36 Army Troops Composite Company
- No. 81 Artillery Company
- No. 82 Artillery Company
- No. 41 Army Transport Company
- No. 45 Army Transport Company
- No. 47 Army Transport Company
- No. 63 Army Transport Company
- No. 64 Army Transport Company
- No. 1 Motor Ambulance Convoy
- No. 2 Motor Ambulance Convoy
General Headquarters, Line of Communication and Base Troops
- No. 66 General Transport Company
- No. 69 General Transport Company
- No. 1 Base Transport Company
- No. 65 Tank Transporter Company
- No. 85 Bridge Company
- No. 86 Bridge Company
RCASC Units in Korean and Japan 1950-1955
Korea- No. 54 Canadian Transport Company (4 May 51 - 11 Apr 52):
- No. 23 Transport Company (10 Apr 52 - 27 Mar 53):
- No. 56 Transport Company (22 Mar 53 - 15 Apr 54):
- No. 3 Transport Company (26 Mar 54 - 27 Nov 54):
Japan
- No. 57 General Transport Company (1 Dec 52 – 26 Feb 53) redesignated No. 58 General Transport Company 27 Feb 53 – 4 Jan 55
- No. 2 Canadian Movement Control Group (7 Oct 50 –4 Jan 55)