The Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC) was an administrative and transport corps of the

Canadian Army The Canadian Army () is the command (military formation), command responsible for the operational readiness of the conventional ground forces of the Canadian Armed Forces. It maintains regular forces units at bases across Canada, and is also re ...

. The Canadian Army Service Corps was established in the

Non-Permanent Active Militia The Non-Permanent Active Militia (NPAM) was the military reserve force of Canada from 1855 to 1940. It was composed of several dozen infantry battalions (redesignated as regiments in 1900) and cavalry regiments. After the withdrawal of British ...

in 1901 and in the Permanent Active Militia in 1903. The Canadian Permanent Army Service Corps was redesignated The Royal Canadian Army Service Corps on 3 Nov 1919.

History

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 (No. 1 at London, No. 2 at Toronto, No. 3 at Kingston and No. 4 at Montreal). The Permanent Component of the CASC was created under General Order 21 of December 1903 and 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.Arnold Warren, Wait for the Waggon. The Story of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. McClelland and Steward Limited, 1961. At the same time the Non-permanent CASC was increased with additional companies being formed at No. 5 at Ottawa, No. 6 at Sherbrooke, No. 7 at Saint John NB, and No. 8 at Kentville NS. No. 1 Company located at London was relocated to Ottawa and in 1903 to Guelph. In August 1905 further nonpermanent companies were added at No. 9 at Hamilton, No. 10 at Quebec City, and No. 11 at Winnipeg. In February 1907 a second Toronto company, No. 12 was formed and in April 1910 No. 14 at Calgary, No. 15 at Montreal, No. 16 at London, No. 17 at Raymond, Quebec, No. 18 at Winnipeg and No. 19 at Vancouver (there was no No. 13.). In August 1914 a further three non-permanent C.A.S.C. Companies were authorized No. 20 at Regina, No. 21 at Victoria and No. 22 at Edmonton. During World War I, the CASC provided a support element for each Canadian Division, and later on, for the

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 19 ...

. 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 World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, His Majesty

King George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. George was born during the reign of his pa ...

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 World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. In addition to maintaining transport for the army on land, the RCASC also commanded and maintained a ship-borne freight and patrol company, the Pacific Command Water Transport Company, during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. The RCASC provided support to Canadian Soldiers wherever they went; training in Canada and Great Britain, the campaign in north-west Europe, (see: British logistics in the Normandy Campaign ), 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 The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

. 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 1st Service Battalion.

Unification

When the Army,

Royal Canadian Navy The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN; , ''MRC'') is the Navy, naval force of Canada. The navy is one of three environmental commands within the Canadian Armed Forces. As of February 2024, the RCN operates 12 s, 12 s, 4 s, 4 s, 8 s, and several auxiliary ...

, and

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Can ...

were merged in 1968 to form the

Canadian Forces The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; , FAC) are the unified Military, military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air commands referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Under the ''National Defenc ...

, the administrative Corps of the Army were deactivated and merged with their Naval and Air Force counterparts to form the Canadian Forces'

personnel branch Employment is a relationship between two parties regulating the provision of paid labour services. Usually based on a contract, one party, the employer, which might be a corporation, a not-for-profit organization, a co-operative, or any oth ...

es. * The RCASC's transport and supply elements were combined with the

Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps The Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps (RCOC; , ''CRCM'') 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 Depart ...

to form the Logistics Branch * The RCASC's clerical trades were merged with the Royal Canadian Army Pay Corps and the

Royal Canadian Postal Corps The Royal Canadian Postal Corps (RCPC) was an administrative corps of the Canadian Army. The Canadian Postal Corps was redesignated The Royal Canadian Postal Corps on 20 June 1961. The badge of The Royal Canadian Postal Corps consists of a horn ...

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 Korea and Japan 1950–1955

Korea *No. 54 Canadian Transport Company (4 May 1951 – 11 April 1952): *No. 23 Transport Company (10 April 1952 – 27 March 1953): *No. 56 Transport Company (22 March 1953 – 15 April 1954): *No. 3 Transport Company (26 March 1954 – 27 November 1954): Japan *No. 57 General Transport Company (1 December 52 – 26 February 1953) redesignated No. 58 General Transport Company 27 February 1953 – 4 January 1955 *No. 2 Canadian Movement Control Group (7 October 50 – 4 January 55)

Bands

The RCASC sported multiple

military band A military band is a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind instrument, wind and percussion instruments. The conducting, conductor of a ...

s during its 67-year history. The

full dress uniform Full dress uniform, also known as a ceremonial dress uniform or parade dress uniform, is among the most formal wear, formal type of uniform used by military, police, firefighter, fire and other public uniformed services for official parade (mili ...

at the time was the army's dress blues accompanied by a white

pith helmet The pith helmet, also known as the safari helmet, salacot, sola topee, sun helmet, topee, and topi is a lightweight cloth-covered helmet made of sholapith. The pith helmet originates from the Spanish Empire, Spanish military adaptation of the nat ...

. The original band wore a khaki uniform, however, the commanding officer arranged for a dress blue uniform. The following is a list featuring the organization of RCASC bands in the past: *Royal Canadian Army Service Corps Brass and Reed Band *Royal Canadian Army Service Corps Bugle Band *Royal Canadian Army Service Corps Apprentice School Bugle Band *Band of the 5th Column, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

) *No. 49 "Tipper" Company (

High River High River is a town within the Calgary Metropolitan Region of Alberta, Canada. It is approximately south of Calgary, at the junction of Alberta Highways 2 and 23. High River had a population of 14,324 in 2021. History The community takes ...

) *153 Company, 7 Column, RCASC (

) The

Calgary Calgary () is a major city in the Canadian province of Alberta. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806 making it the third-largest city and fifth-largest metropolitan area in C ...

units of the RCASC formed a band in 1932, with its first public performance was being on 12 March 1933 at Strand theatre. Many band members went overseas in 1940 and a new trumpet and drum band was formed at Sarcee Barracks to replace this band. The latter was dissolved at the end of the war and a new RCASC band was organized by George Bealing in 1948. By the end the summer of 1942, the band mainly consisted of musicians from the depleted ranks of the West Canadian Collieries Band. This band officially disbanded in 1963, with most remaining members transferring to The King's Own Calgary Regiment Band. On 2 September 1939, the RCASC Trumpet Band marched through the streets of

Ottawa Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern Ontario, southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the cor ...

with accompanying placards that were designed to recruit Canadian volunteers following the declaration of war on

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German Reich, German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a Totalit ...

. The 5th Column RCASC Trumpet Band from

was the RCASC predecessor to the then Jolly Jesters and the modern-day Burlington Commanders Drum Corps. At the time of its active service, it was part of the army reserve. In 1955, the army forbade the band from performing at a civilian function in Toronto. As a result, the band made the decision to remove itself from the army order of battle and become a civilian group. Notable RCASC bandsmen included the following officers and personnel: *Peter John Powers, founder of a local unit band and former National President of the Federation of Musicians for Canada. *J. Alan Wood *Alexander D. Knight Jr, former member of the RCASC trumpet band and former Vice President/business manager of the Toronto Signals Band. *George Edward Jardine, Canadian authors *Ted Reilly, Drum Major of the RCASC Toronto Band and founder of the Jolly Jesters.

Armoury

References

{{Commons Canadian Army Corps of the Canadian Army Military units and formations of Canada in World War I Military units and formations of Canada in World War II Military history of Canada Military units and formations established in 1919 Military logistics of Canada