The Railway that Helped win the Crimean War by Anthony Dawson

Author:Anthony Dawson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY / Military / Wars & Conflicts (Other)
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2022-08-30T00:00:00+00:00

2 Sections

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1 Company

2 Companies

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1 Brigade

2 Brigades

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1 Division

6 Divisions

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1 Wing

Each of the six divisions was commanded by a ‘Captain of Division’ and each division was to be attached to each division of the army it served and the facing colours and vehicles of each division were to be of a distinctive colour:

1st Division

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light blue

2nd Division

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red

3rd Division

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yellow

4th Division

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white

5th Division

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grey

6th Division

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green

In other words, the organisation of the LTC was similar to the French Train; in the French system each escadron of three ‘active’ companies was attached to each division of the army. Initially there were twenty-six companies of the Train des Équipages serving in the Crimea, but they proved insufficient, and eventually thirty-six Train companies were on active service. In addition, were the ‘bis’, or ‘provisional’, companies and eventually seventeen ‘auxiliaire’ companies, most of which remained in Bulgaria, were formed from ‘natives’. These auxiliaire companies used both horses, mules, buffaloes and bullocks to pull their somewhat mixed bag of waggons which included Maltese carts and native arabas.

Whereas the LTC was united in a single tented camp and horse lines, the French Train remained concentrated at their main supply base at Kamiesch (8 companies) and at the French Head Quarters (Grand Quartier General) near Kadikoi (eighteen companies). A further nine companies were on detached duties. This type of organisation meant that the French Train was close to its point of supply and did not, unlike the British LTC, have to carry its own supplies and stores to its camp in addition to those of the troops which it was supplying. The LTC was effectively performing double duties in having to transport its own stores, which placed twice the strain on the men, materiel and horses than was placed on the French Train.

In the field the LTC was to be responsible for the transport of all ‘warlike stores’, provisions and the movement of the sick and wounded. These duties were outlined as being:

1. To carry out such arrangements as may be necessary for the operations of the army generally.

2. The providing of transport for the baggage of the army.

3. The carriage of ammunition.

4. The transport of provisions.

5. The conveyance of the sick.

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