Happy International Logistics Day!

National Logistics Day is celebrated on June 28 every year to honor the work of the hardworking professionals in the logistics sector.

I don’t suppose whoever came up with the idea of ‘International Logistics Day’ gave a thought to the BSF and the magnificent efforts of all those – notably the Army Service Corps – who kept the Salonika Army supplied and in the field through to victory in 1918. It seems a good opportunity, though, to remember them again now. Although we often go on about mules, we should remember that the First World War saw increasing mechanisation, so I thought it would be fitting to share some photos of ASC motor transport.

These photos are from the collection of John Gilchrist (1896-1979) who served with 89 Auxiliary Mechanical Transport Company (244 Company ASC) and show: (top) two of his pals working on a 3-ton lorry and (bottom) inside a workshop – hot work in a Macedonian summer. Our thanks go to John’s granddaughter, Caroline Coleman, for donating the photos to the Society.

These photos are from the collection of Herbert Price (1895-1960) whose MT company is not known. Helpfully, several of the photos have captions: (top left) Convoy waiting for Bulgar prisoners; (top right) two pals with a lorry; (bottom left) Lorries flying over the perfect Macedonian roads; (bottom right) a lorry stuck in a ditch. Our thanks go to Herbert’s granddaughter, Deborah Elliott, for donating the photos to the Society.

You can find out more about the Army Service Corps online:

• Army Service Corps units of the BSF
• Army Service Corps in the First World War
• Royal Logistic Corps Museum