Description
Physical description
badge
An upward arc of blue printed "waterproof" cotton on which printed in yellow in sans-serif yellow (gold) capital letters ROYAL CANADIAN / ARMY SERVICE CORPS
Label
This particular title dates to after November 1942, which is when the printed cotton material was introduced.
Corps history. Motto: Nil sine labore. (Nothing without labour.)
The following is based primarily on Major W. E. Campbell's brief history from the RCASC website.
The RCASC held its last Horse Transport Parade in 1936 but modernization was slow due to peace-time financial constraints and the effects of the Depression. On the eve of WW2 the RCASC had a strength of only 4,000, just 1,000 more than in 1914. The declaration of war in 1939 resulted in a rapid expansion and by war's end it was estimated that almost 100,000 had served in the Corps, representing approximately one man in twelve serving in the Canadian Army.
The build-up period in the UK saw several changes occur in the RCASC organization. Between the wars the RCASC supplied only bread, meat, tea, sugar and salt, but not petrol. This was an early addition to the RASC's tasks and petrol provision became a major responsibility, involving both bulk transportation and canned supplies together with the associated storage and filling facilities and an increase in technical units and personnel.
With regard to food, they became responsible for the provision and issue of new items such as special ration packs like the 14 man compo packs, AFV rations, 24-hour rations, etc. There was also an increase in the number of ration scales because of the different types of personnel and different theatres of operation. In August 1942, all army cooks re-badged to RCASC, which became responsible for all aspects of catering.
In 1943, the organization of the transport companies of the RASC and RCASC changed from a 'commodity' basis to a 'composite' one. An S&T company would now support an infantry brigade with all the divisional companies forming a divisional column under the CRASC.
Before the war the RCASC was responsible for the provision, recovery and repair of all its own vehicles, functions performed by Ordnance for other Corps. The winter of 1943/1944 saw the heavy workshop functions of the RCASC and RCOC being combined to form a new Corps, the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME). This was designed to better support the greatly increased repair requirements of the modern, more mechanised army. They also had to learn to deal with novel forms of transport, from amphibious vehicles to animal transport.
The first RCASC members to see action landed at Brest in June 1940 as part of the 1st Canadian Brigade in anticipation of forming a second BEF. They re-embarked soon after the fall of France on 22 June. Canada dispatched 'C' Force to Hong Kong in autumn 1941, which included a small RCASC element. After Hong Kong fell in December 1941, those RCASC members who survived the fighting went into four years of harsh captivity at the hands of the Japanese. In August of 1942, 39 RCASC personnel participated in the Dieppe Raid, some of whom were killed in action or captured. A joint American / Canadian operation was mounted in the summer of 1943 to free the Aleutian island of Kiska from Japanese occupation. The RCASC elements with 13 Canadian Infantry Brigade were part of this force. It was a bloodless campaign as the Japanese had abandoned the island before the force arrived.
In July 1943, the 1st Canadian Infantry Division and 1st Army Tank Brigade (later renamed 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade) participated in the invasion of Sicily. The RCASC units worked with a British RASC DUKW company to re-supply the force. Conditions forced the transport companies to revert to working on a commodity basis. The mountainous terrain resulted in the formation of the 1st Canadian Division Mule Transport Company.
The invasion of Italy followed on 3 September. In November, the 5th Canadian Armoured Division and the 1st Canadian Corps arrived. With the Corps HQ came the Corps units such as No. 1 Motor Ambulance Convoy, Nos. 41, 43 and 44 General Transport Companies, and No. 81 Artillery Company, RCASC, to serve 1 CAGRA. The 1st Canadian Army Catering Corps, Group 'A', also arrived to control catering, operate the Canadian military hotels and rest areas and to co-ordinate the work of the two British RASC Field Bakeries that were attached to them.
The difficult terrain of central Italy saw the continued use of pack animals and the formation of the 1st Canadian Corps Jeep Platoon.
In February/March 1945, Operation 'Gold Flake' saw the movement of 1st Canadian Corps to Holland to link up with 1st Canadian Army Headquarters.
Meanwhile, in North-West Europe, the RCASC components of the three Canadian Divisions were joined by the units belonging to 2 Corps and those of 1 Army. For example, 1st Canadian Army Transport Column Headquarters had under command 45, 47, 63 and 64 Transport Companies; 1st Canadian Army Troops Headquarters had 35 and 36 Army Troops Composite Companies; 2nd Canadian General Transport Column had 65, 66 and 69 Transportation Companies. Nos. 85 and 86 Bridging Companies were a valuable Army / Army Group asset. Some of the more unique units were: No.1 Canadian Advanced Stationary Depot, RCASC and No.1 Canadian Mobile Printing Section, RCASC. In support of operations, RCASC units completed a major ammunition dumping programme prior to the start of Operation Totalize, the bridgehead breakout. They moved over 80,000 tons in one and one-half days in addition to troop carrying and many other general transport tasks. Later in the campaign, Canadian innovation was in the forefront when the 40 ton Diamond-T tank transporters of 65 Tank Transporter Company were turned into commodity carriers by the use of temporary side racks. The Corps also supported the RCAF in every phase.
Demobilization began in September 1945.
History note
Associated person: John Tiffin Murray Stewart b. 1917, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. d. 6 August 1964, 47 yrs., heart attack. Service record: Gunner M 4044 RCA. 1942: Reg. H2, HQ RCA, 1st Administration Corps. RCA CASF (Canadian Active Service Force) 1st Division. 1943: Reg. H3, 3rd Field Regt. RCA CASF 1st Division. 1944: 1st A Wing. No. 1 CARU (Canadian Artillery Reinforcement Unit).
Family history: 11 December 1942, married Elfreda Joan, nee Knight, at Congregational Church West Wickham, Kent. 15 June 1945, returned Canada. 27 June 1946, joined by family (on board 'Letitia'). August 1948, all family return to UK ('Queen Mary'). Moved to family home, Cavendish Way, West Wickham, Kent. Subsequently bought house, Oak Avenue, Shirley, Croydon.