Army Service Corps

The unsung heroes of the British army in the Great War - the ASC, Ally Sloper's Cavalry. Soldiers can not fight without food, equipment and ammunition. In the Great War, the vast majority of this tonnage, supplying a vast army on many fronts, was supplied from Britain. Using horsed and motor vehicles, railways and waterways, the ASC performed prodigious feats of logistics and were one of the great strengths of organisation by which the war was won.

At peak, the ASC numbered an incredible 10,547 officers and 315,334 men. In addition were tens of thousands of Indian, Egyptian, Chinese and other native labourers, carriers and stores men, under orders of the ASC. Yet this vast, sprawling organisation - so vital to enabling the army to fight - merits just four mentions in the Official History of the war.

Private Frederick Walter Sinfield

Submitted by KarenC on

Frederick Walter was born in Luton on 2 July 1897 to Walter & Florence.

He had 1 brother & 3 sisters.

In the 1911 census it tells us that the family are living at 24 York Street. Father Walter is a straw hat blocker, Mother Florence is a straw hat machinist alongside 15 year old Lily & Louisa Ann, 17, is a straw hat finisher. 13 year old Frederick, his brother Leonard Charles, 11 & sister Priscilla Martha aged 9 are all at school.

Sergeant Wallace William Gazeley

Submitted by admin on

Details imported from Luton Absent Voters list and the National Roll of the Great War (Section V).

The National Roll (mostly submitted by families) describes his service as follows: Volunteering in August 1915 he was engaged on special duties with his unit until January 1918 when he was sent to Mesopotamia. He did valuable work in this theatre of war at Basra, Baghdad and Tekrit and remained overseas until the cessation of hostilities. Returning to England he was demobilised in June 1919 and holds the General Service and Victory Medals.

Private Frederick Allen Vernon Cripps

Submitted by admin on

Details imported from Luton Absent Voters list and the National Roll of the Great War (Section V)

The National Roll (mostly submitted by families) describes his service as follows: He joined (the Royal Fusiliers) in December 1916 and in the following February was sent to France. He took part in much heavy fighting, and was wounded at Ypres. He also served at Arras, Vimy Ridge. Passchendaele Ridge and Cambrai. He was demobilised in March 1919 after his return home and holds the General service and Victory Medals.

Bakery 2nd Class Bertie Sturgess

Submitted by admin on

Details imported from Luton Absent Voters list and National Roll of the Great War (Section V)

The National Roll (mostly submitted by families) describes his service as follows: He joined in November 1916 and was engaged on special duties as a baker with his unit at various home stations. He was unable to obtain his transfer to a theatre of war until after the signing of the Armistice. He was then sent to Germany with the Army of Occupation and served at Cologne until demobilised in 1919 after returning to England.

Sergeant Nelson Thomas Pike

Submitted by David on

Sgt Nelson Thomas Pike, was the fourth son of Joseph Peplar Pike and Agnes Pike of Someries Farm Luton. Nelson was born in 1889 in Hilperton Wiltshire, where his father was a farmer.

In 1911, Nelson was working as a Chauffeur for the family of Edward Welton, a Stockbroker who lived in St. Albans.

Nelson joined the A.S.C. as a driver, and was continually engaged in the transport of ammunition and supplies from the railheads to the front line depots, a risky occupation that was open to shellfire and the occasional explosion of ammunition under transit.

Private Arthur Ernest Hollard Hitchcock

Submitted by KarenC on

Arthur was born in 1883 in Luton to Edwin and Mary Elizabeth Hitchcock.

In 1911 Arthur was living at 74 Lea Road with his 69 year old widowed mother and his 36 year old unmarried sister Mary Elizabeth Ann. His sister was a straw hat finisher and Arthur was working as a whitesmith at an ironmongers.

Whilst serving in the Royal Army Service Corps in Flanders he caught TB and was discharged from active service and sent home.

 

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