The Royal Corps of Transport (RCT) was a British Army Corps established to manage all matters in relation to the transport of men and material for the Army and the wider Defence community. It was formed in 1965 and disbanded in 1993; its units and trades were amalgamated into the Royal Logistic Corps. The Depot and Training Regiment RCT was at the former Buller Barracks in Aldershot garrison.
| Royal Corps of Transport | |
|---|---|
 Royal Corps of Transport regimental badge | |
| Active | 1965–1993 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Garrison/HQ | Buller Barracks, Aldershot |
| Motto(s) | Nil sine labore ("Nothing without labour")[1] |
| March | Wait for the Wagon |
History
editThe corps was formed in 1965 from the transport (land, water and air) elements of the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) and the movement control and transportation elements of the Royal Engineers (RE). The Royal Army Service Corps’ functions of supply and transport were separated. The RCT became responsible for transport including ships and launches. whilst supplies became the responsibility of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps.[2] In 1993, following the Options for Change review, the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) was formed by the amalgamation of The Royal Corps of Transport, the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, the Royal Pioneer Corps, the Army Catering Corps, and the Postal and Courier elements of the Royal Engineers.[3]
Regiments
editRegiments of the Royal Corps of Transport with regiment, with last name, before disbandment:[4][5]
- 1st Armoured Division Transport Regiment
- 2nd Infantry Division Transport Regiment
- 3rd Armoured Division Transport Regiment
- 4th Armoured Division Transport Regiment
- 7 Tank Transporter Regiment
- 8 Transport Regiment
- 10 Corps Transport Regiment
- 14th Air Dispatch Regiment
- 15th Air Dispatch Regiment
- 17th Port Regiment
- 20th Maritime Regiment
- 21st (Northern Ireland) Transport and Movement Regiment
- 23rd Transport and Movement Regiment
- 24th Regiment
- 25th Regiment
- 26th Transport and Movement Regiment
- 27th Regiment
- 28th Transport and Movement Regiment
- 29th Transport and Movement Regiment
- 30th Regiment
- 31st Regiment
- 32nd Regiment
- 33rd Maritime Regiment
- Other Units part of the Royal Corps of Transport
- Maritime Group, Royal Corps of Transport
- Headquarters Air Dispatch Group
- 1st Regiment, Royal Malta Artillery
- 2nd Transport Group
- Logistic Support Group Regiment
- Gurkha Transport Regiment
- Parachute Logistic Regiment
- Cyprus Logistic Unit
- 395 Air Dispatch Troop
- MT Troop 22 Special Air Service
- 401 Troop
- 402 Troop
- 403 Troop
- 404 Troop
- 405 Troop
- 407 Troop
- 410 Troop
- 414 Pack Transport Troop
- 415 Maritime Troop
- 416 Troop
- 460 Port Troop (Falkland Islands)
- 486 Movement Control Troop
- 497 Movement Control Troop
- Reserve Regiment
- 150 Transport Regiment
- 151 Transport Regiment
- 152 Transport Regiment
- 153 Transport Regiment
- 154 Transport Regiment
- 155 Transport Regiment
- 156 Transport Regiment
- 157 Transport Regiment
- 160 Transport Regiment
- 161 Ambulance Regiment
- 162 Movement Control Regiment
- 163 Movement Control Regiment
Trades
edit
The Royal Corps of Transport consisted of a number of different specialist trades. These included:[6]
- Driver was the primary trade of the RCT and as such private soldiers held the rank 'Driver'.
- Driver (Responsible for General Duties and Driver tasks).
- Driver Radio operator
- Driver Tank Transporter
- Driver Air Dispatcher
In conversation, the 'Driver' element was often omitted from these other Driver roles, even though the rank abbreviation of Dvr remained.
Clerical trades also completed basic driver training before going on to specialise
- Clerk - Working within RCT Squadrons.
- Movement controller previously referred to as Traffic Operator
Port and Specialised Support Trades, Port and Maritime specialists
editAgain basic driver training was required
- Driver Port Operator
- Driver Railwayman (79 Railway Squadron RCT)
- Mariner (Seaman)
- Marine Engineer
- Pilot - Hovercraft - for a very short period. Pilot was not really a trade but an appointment
RCT personnel served in additional roles
edit- Staff car Driver could be carried out by any driver trade and additionally by those that carried out the Staff car Driver's course at the Army School of Mechanical Transport - (Later Defence School of Transport).
- Airborne Forces as a Parachutist but stayed in trade, so not for sea, port and railway trades. N.B. Parachutist was never a trade in the RCT. However, 63 Parachute Squadron RCT was part of the Airborne Bde.[7]
- Royal Marines (Commando Logistic Regiment) Having completed the 'Army Commando Course'
- Special Duties Teams in Northern Ireland
- Master Driver
Additional Officer Information
edit- The RCT provided the first Service Support Officer to be the Commanding Officer 22 SAS (Brigadier Andrew Massey RCT, Later SAS, CO 22 SAS 1984–87)
Andrew Christopher Massey, soldier: born Carlisle, Cumberland 18 April 1943; MBE 1979, OBE 1987; Commanding Officer, 22 SAS Regiment 1984–87; deputy director, Special Forces 1990–91, Commandant, RCT Training Centre 1992–93; married 1977 Annabelle Cunningham (one son, one daughter); died Hereford 19 August 1998. [8]
References
edit- ^ "The Royal Logistic Corps and Forming Corps". The Royal Logistic Corps Museum. Archived from the original on 14 August 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- ^ "Royal Army Service Corps & Royal Corps of Transport Association". Retrieved 17 May 2014.
- ^ "History and scope of the Regiment". Royal Army Service Corps & Royal Corps of Transport Association. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
- ^ "British Army units from 1945 on - Royal Corps of Transport". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-12-17.
- ^ "Royal Corps of Transport [UK]". 2007-12-18. Archived from the original on 2007-12-18. Retrieved 2018-12-17.
- ^ "Royal Corps of Transport". ARRSEPedia. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- ^ "63 Parachute Squadron RCT". paradata.org.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- ^ Arthur, Max (14 September 1998). "Obituary: Brigadier Andrew Massey". The Independent. Retrieved 1 March 2014.