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311
M'OBILISATION AND THE QUARTERMASTER.
By A QUARTERMASTER.
Royal Army Medical Corps.
MOBILISATION is a long word, but it has no terrors for those
who Ii during peace study war," or, in other words, the man who
prepares himself for the duty he may be called upon to perform
will have no uneasiness should that call be made.
In this paper I venture to lay down Ii general principles" for
the information and. guidance of quartermasters on the subject of
mobilisation, remembering always that changes are frequent, that
new regulations are issued and sometimes overlooked, that what is
to-day is not to-morrow; but, withal, there is only Ii one spirit of
the regulations" which, if understood, guides and directs, even
when the context is unknown. We know also that different men
have different ways of carrying out instructions, which lead to
slight divergence of method, though in the main" unity of system"
prevails. I therefore submit this paper on general principles,
believing that if a man knows thoroughly what he has to do
his common sense will not lead him very far astray in the doing
of it.
We cannot commence better than by clearly defining the quartermaster's position in the unit. It is scriptural instruction that no
man can serve two masters; so our quartermaster, while fully recognising the military claims of his seniors, feels answerable solely to
the commanding office~ for the performance of his duties. He is in
the position of a staff officer to his commanding officer in matters
relating to the obtaining of military supplies of all description. The
interior economy of. the disposition of these supplies is another
matter: the quartermaster produces the meat, others say whether
that meat shall be boiled, baked, or fried. He- is responsible for
quantities, not quality. If he is required to obtain 100 eggs, his duty
is performed whenever he produces those 100 eggs, whatever the
inside. may be like. A clear understanding of this position will, I
know from experience, save much friction-that bitter enemy to
efficiency-and as it has an indirect bearing on mobilisation, inasmuch as a mobilised field medical unit, not existing as such in peace,
is composed of a personnel practically entire strangers to each other,
it is necessary that every man should, from the beginning, know his
position and the nature of his duty, and in this paper I am dealing
with the quartermaster's duties solely. My re~arks are, therefore,
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312
Mobilisation and· the Quarierrnaster
I think, relevant to the subject. The unit is a machine; the commanding officer is the chief engineer; the hesitating wheel responds
to the oil-can of the engineer, not to the efforts of the piston rod,
though the action of the one is essential to the working of the
other.
We will divide our paper into the following headings :(1) The postil~g to war units during peace.
(2) The scheme or local mobilisation orders.
(3) The assembly of the personnel.
(4) Arrangements for housing and feeding on arrival.
(5) Nature of stores to be drawn and method of drawing.
(6) Embarkation.
(1) THE POSTING TO WAR UNITS DURING PEACE.
Having received notification of the exact unit to which he
will be attached on mobilisation, the quartermaster will first, from
".Mobilisation Instructions Army Medical Service," learn all about
his unit~the source from which the personnel is obtained, where
the clothing of reservists and specially enlisted men, the ordnance
and medical equipment, the medical comforts, &c., are stored. If
possible, he should visit these places and see for himself the order
and regularity which exist; the impression formed will do good by
creating a proper sense of the seriousness, from a national point of
view, of all those preparations which many, unfortunately for future
efficiency, regard too lightly.
He is justified, in an unofficial way of course, in communicating
with the commanding officer, whose name has been notified to him,
on matters connected with the mobilisation of his particular unit,
and bearing on the remarks which follow in this paper. Secondly,
he should study carefully the mobilisation store table of his particular
unit CA. F. G., 1,098 Series), and so get fully acquainted with the
names and character of the stores, and the purpose for which each
article is issued. 'l'hirdly, he should study that part of the "Field
Service Manual" relating to him.
.
(2) THE SCHEME OR LOCAL MOBILISATION ORDERS.
The scheme, or "local mobilisation orders," is of course of
a confidential nature, but we may discuss its object without exposing
its contents. The commander of a field unit, or other officer
deputed by authority, is required to draw up in peace time a scheme
for the mobilisation of his unit; otherwise it does not require much
wisdom to foresee confusion. Here the quartermaster will find,
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· A Quartermaste1'
313
ready prepared, requisitions for supplies, temporary barrack and
ordnance equipment for use during the transition period from peace
to completed mobilisation (the mobilisation equipment must not be
used during this period). A time-table for the drawing of the
ordnance equipment and a plan for each day's work are usually
included in the scheme; the quartermaster does not prepare this
scheme, but it is as well that he should know of its existence, and
of that part which relates to his duties.
Those special articles of clothing and necessaries which are not
stored by the corps during peace, but are required by the units
embarking, will be supplied at the place of mobilisation. (Table n.,
Clothing Regulations, part 3.)
:Mounted service clothing for warrant officers will be obtained, if
possible, from a unit a,t the station, or indented for from the clothing
depot supplying the district.
(3) THE ASSEMBLY OF THE PERSONNEL.
With the assembly of the personnel commences the actual work
of the quartermaster in connection with his new unit. The men will
arrive at the place of mobilisation fully clothed and equipped, with
the exceptions noted above; and if our quartermaster has followed
the instructions under the heading, "Posting, &c.," he knows just
where these men were clothed, and whence they came. He will
have looked into all the arrangements for the storage of regimental
and personal baggage to be left behind by the unit. Reservists
and specially enlisted men make their own arrangements for disposal
of plain clothes, &c.; they are at liberty to leave them in this store
at their own risk.
The quartermaster will receive from the orderly room all
1. and R. vouchers connected with public clothing (A.F.H., 1,150)
and equipment (A.F.G., 1,033) of the men. The signed, or receipt,
vouchers he will retain for his own information; the unsigned, or
issue, vouchers he will prepare for his commanding officer's signature,
and. return them to the issuing officer in acknowledgment of the
articles. He will deal similarly with all vouchers received from the
Ordnance and Royal Army Clothing Department. The quartermaster's attention is specially directed to Chapter VII. "Field
Service Regulations,"Part n.
(4) AHHANGEMENT'S 'FOH HOUSING AND FEEDING.
I think I ought to have written this paragraph before the
preceding one, but as it follows so closely perhaps the continuity of
our work will not be broken.
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~Mobilisation
and the Quartermaster
In our remarks on "the scheme" we spoke of certain arrangements being prepared in readiness; the housing and feeding of
personnel, men and horses, is one of them; immediately on arrival
at the place of mobilisation the quartermaster-who has probably
preceded the remainder of the personnel-will go into this matter·
and draw the temporary stores referred to above, i~ not already done,
Unless otherwise ordered, Field Service rations will be issued
to the personnel from the first day of mobilisation, which is the day
foilowing that on which mobilisation is ordered: I am writing here
of "general," not "partial," mobiliflation. The demand will be
made on the ordinary A.B. 55 in general use, and the scale, as
everybody knows, is to be found in the, allowance regulations:
Practically - although I have no authority for saying so - the
requisition will aJso be the accounting return. If time, however,
admits, the ordinary peace returns, A.F.F. 718, supported by
O. 1,640, A.Fs.F. 719-727-776, &c., will be rendered in connection
with supplies before the unit embarks .
.
(5)
THE NATURE
OF THE STORES TO BE
DRAWN
AND
METHOD
OF DRAWING.
The. stores to be drawn differ slightly according to the nature of
the unit mobilising, but the system is practically the same in each
case. They comprise : (1) Ordnance equipment, held by Army Ordnance Department:
see" Regulations for Mobilisation."
(2) Hospital Clothing and Necessaries, by Royal Army Clothing
Department: see" Clothing Regulations," part IH.
(3) "Medical and Surgical Equipment," by Army Medical Department: see" Mobilisation Instructions," Army Medical Service.
(4) Medical Comforts (as for Medical and Surgical Equipment).
(5) Veterinary Equipment, held by Army Veterinary Service
and issued under arrangements made by the Principal Veterinary
Officer: see" Regulations for Mobilisation."
(6) Regimental Supplies, by Army Service Corps: see" Regulations for Mobilisation."
From the" Regulations for Mobilisation" it will be seen that,not
only is there a "general" and a "par-tial" mobilisation, but also
a mobilisation for "Home Defence" and a mobilisation for
" Service Abroad."
In the former case-i.e., "Home Defence "-these stores would,
if the mobilisation took place at the station where the equip~
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315
ment is held in readiness, be drawn personally, and it would be the
duty of the quartermaster (acting always under the orders of his
commanding officer) to see that all necessary transport and fatigue
parties are duly demanded, and that they arrive at the mobilisation
store at the appointed hour. Remember that st;res are drawn by
time-table, and that you are doubtless only one of seveTal units
drawing on the same day.
As the greater part of these stores is either packed or baled;
the ordnance count will be accepted as correct, for time would
certainly not admit of careful checking; but this will not prevent
you from counting your bales and packages and making a note of
their several marks or numbers. When we get back to camp or
barracks we can take a more careful survey of these stores, if time
permits, which, to say the least, is doubtful.
If the unit is one having transport attached, like a field
ambulance, the quartermaster should hand over the wagons and
harness and the articles pertaining thereto to the Army Service
Corps. The fitting of harness, the equipping of wagons by
inventory-A.F.G. 1096 Series (if these forms are not available,
see Appendix XIV.; "Equipment Regulations, Part L)-are duties
which should be performed with the utmost exactness-and though
the Army Service Corps are the experts, it behoves the quartermaster, in the absence of a transport officer, to know something
about these things.
The medical and surgical equipment, medical comforts, and
veterinary stores will be drawn in like manner from the places
where they are held, or otherwise obtained according to the regulations governing the circumstances. As regards the stores mentioned,
no requisitions are needed, but receipts will be given. Saddlery
for officers' horses, not being inCluded in mobilisation store tables,
should however, I think, be demanded on A.F.G. 997, and this
requisition should be submitted without delay; the requisition, even
if not required, can do no harm and will insure delivery.
If mobilisation takes place at a distance from the mobilisation
store, then the equipment (that is, the ordnance equipment)
will be drawn by a party sent from the unit, and this party will
accompany it to the place of mobilisation.
In the event of mobilisation for service abroad, it is highly
probable that all stores will be sent to port of embarkation for
shipment with the unit, and all the 'quartermaster has to do is to
see that it is present and, if possible, see it loaded and note its
position in the hold: the information will be of use on disembarking.
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316
Mobilisation and the Quartermaster
There will be someone present to hand these stores over in bulk,
and he will require a receipt from the officer commanding before
the ship sails. It might even happen that, under exceptional
circumstances, the personnel would sail in one ship and the stores
be sent in another; even so, the final aim-viz., the readiness of the
unit to take the field when required to do so-will not be affected.
The main thing is, the quartermaster knows exactly what he has
to get on behalf of his commanding officer, and where and how to
get it under normal conditions. His first action would naturally be
to make full inquiry on these points; if circumstances arise,
however, necessitating a departure from the usual routine, the
authorities will notify and in due course the officer commanding
will receive full instructions.
I have purposely left the question of regimental supplies till the
last. We may, with all due respect, call these the indefinite stores;
that is, stores which are not-like those previously referred to-held
and labelled ready for issue ,to a particular unit. I think it wiser,
therefore, to say nothing about them. Our quartermaster will learn
more from a five-minute interview with the officer in charge of
supplies than I can tell him here; but he should not wait until
mobilisation renders everybody more or less too busy to answer
questions. He can also read up the mobilisation instructions on the
subject.
(6)
EMBARKATION.
Having made all his arrangements for transport of baggage, &c.,
from camp or barracks to railway station (if necessary), and disposed
of, the temporary stores previolJsly referred to, he has little else to
do, for a time at least. On arrival at the ship he will see his
regimental baggage safely stored on board, take over the ship's
stores for his personnel, and-subject to my previous remarks re
stores in general-take ,a well-earned rest. 'Ve have now nothing
to do but to wish him God-speed, a pleasant voyage, and a safe and
speedy return.
N OTE.--To the majority of quartermasters this paper contains
nothing new. My excuse for writing is that I write for beginners
in the race, not for those, who, like myself, are on the last lap. We
are, however, none of us, beyond instruction.
~
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Mobilisation and the
Quartermaster
A Quartermaster
J R Army Med Corps 1910 15: 311-316
doi: 10.1136/jramc-15-03-06
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