RCOC 1 and 2 Detachments, England, 1940

[Mark W. Tonner]

David;

From the book 'TO THE THUNDERER HIS ARMS, THE ROYAL CANADIAN ORDNANCE CORPS':

No. 1 Det, RCOC - page 88-89:

"The primary function of the first small Canadian Ordnance detachment which was posted to the Field Stores Depot, Aldershot, in late December 1939, was a financial nature. It was required to learn in detail the British system of accounting which would be taken into use by the Canadian formations upon arrival in Great Britain. In addition, an RCOC Control Office was established, to inspect clothing and equipment accounts for Canadian units, to maintain duplicate accounting ledgers for Canadian units, to check on British claims for stores issued to Canadian units on repayment, and to submit claims for Canadian stores issued to the British.

In February 1941, an establishment was approved and the Canadians who had been working at the Aldershot depot on an ad hoc basis were formed into an authorized unit, designated No. 1 Detachment RCOC. By August 1940, a number of former tank hangers at Crookham, Hampshire, were made available and the Canadian Group transferred its stores there. The officer commanding No. 1 Detachment RCOC also held the title of DADOS Canadian troops, Aldershot, and, in this capacity, it was his duty to co-ordinate demands submitted by Canadian unts stationed within Aldershot Command. Late in 1940, No. 1 Detachment began to act more and more as an inspection unit.

The original No. 1 Detachment did, however, acquire three additional functions during 1940. A Boot Repair Shop and shoemaker's school was established in Crookham in the autumn of 1940. An Armourers' Shop was set up at about the same time. This unit moved to Bordon in early 1944 and came under the direction of the RCEME."

No. 2 Det, RCOC - page 91-92:

"The first Canadian vehicles to reach the united Kingdom began to land during March and April of 1940. When these arrived in a 'semi-knocked-down" condition (crated, their wheels removed) at the Government siding of the Field Stores Depot in Aldershot, an RCOC officer and six other ranks from the Canadian Liaison Office at Field Stores, Aldershot, were made responsible for assembling and for driving them to a temporary Canadian depot at Woking.

About a hundred vehicles, all staff cars, were landed in the United Kingdom during March and April of 1940. With the arrival of larger quantities and heavier types of Canadian mechanical transport, it became necessary to establish a separate Canadian depot to handle them. A new RAOC building, adjacent to Martinique Barracks in Bordon, was taken over by the Canadians. To begin with, the RCOC MT Depot had an establishment of only a dozen all ranks but it increased greatly as its responsibilities grew. An establishment was authorized for the unit which had formerly been operating on an ad hoc basis and the Vehicle Depot was entitled No. 2 Detachment, RCOC."

Hope this helps.

Cheers