About This Unit
These units were logistic support and supply units under Command of the Division / Brigade to which its numeric designator corresponded.
The tasks of the trains and motorised columns varied. The train companies were required to carry baggage and resupply food, forage and water for the headquarters and units of the division.
In the Middle East, wheeled vehicles were very limited in mobility forcing a need to improvise.
In addition they supported Division units with a wide variety of general tasks from providing drivers for formation headquarters and field ambulances to carting roadmaking materials and engineer stores, operating snow ploughs, using sledges to evacuate casualties through the mud, providing transport for postal deliveries, repairing unit equipment, and operating ad hoc pack transport units.
The supply columns and ammunition sub-parks, in addition to their basic tasks, hauled lumber, road metal, ordnance and postal cargo, petrol, quicklime, rails and medical comforts, as well as emergency mass medical evacuation and incidentally filling in as medical assistants at dressing stations, 1 Div Amm Sub-Park even publishing the AIF newspaper Rising Sun, later renamed Aussie.
A detailed explanation of the roles played by the Service Corps is detailed at "Equal to the Task".(books.historia.com.au)
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