The Royal Corps of Transport (RCT) was a British ArmyCorps 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.
History
The 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
Regiments of the Royal Corps of Transport with regiment, with last name, before disbandment:[4][5]
Port and Specialised Support Trades, Port and Maritime specialists
Again 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
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]
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
^"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.
External links
"Royal Army Service Corps and Royal Corps of Transport Association".