Over the 2015 August Bank Holiday weekend the Sussex Yeomanry Mounted Skill-at-Arms Group (along with a number of other groups) was invited to join the Royal Army Logistic Corps’ Horses in War display at the Edenbridge & Oxted Show.
The display comprised a number of elements, one of which was a ‘parade’ of WW1 horse-drawn vehicles – some from the extensive collection that belongs to the RLC and one that belongs to the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Living History Group. Some general background information about the vehicles – with photos – is below.
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- WW1 GS wagon, from the RLC collection at Deepcut. Two were on display – both Mk X, both built by Metropolitan Wagon and Carriage Works, one in 1915, one in 1916, both upgraded to MkX* at some stage (newer pattern wheels with bronze dust caps and Natal pattern brakes). Unladen weight – 15 cwt, load capacity – 30 cwt. Drawn by a pair of heavy horses.
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- Cart – Tank, Water, MkV, originally built by NB Co (?) in 1915 but completely restored and owned by the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Living History Group. Capacity – 109 Imperial Gallons. For potable water this would be fitted with filtration equipment and pumps. Without these, the water could only be used for washing, laundry and watering horses. Drawn by a pair of horses.
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- Mess Cart, built by MW Ltd in 1918, from the RLC Collection. Used to carry cooking pots/dixies and rations. Would normally have a canvas tilt but this has gone missing – there are plans to replace it. Drawn by a single horse.
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- Cart – Ambulance – Horse, Mk 2, from the RLC collection. This is the ‘Lingfield’ pattern, with the drop-down floor and over-arching axletree, allowing cast horses to be raised or lowered by slings. Drawn by a single heavy horse but with provision for hooking in another on an outrigger if conditions demanded this.
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- Limbered Ammunition Wagon, date of manufacture unknown, but probably just pre WW1. An articulated two-part vehicle with good cross-country capability. Carried either Small Arms Ammunition or Artillery Shells. Drawn by a pair of horses or a team of four, depending on conditions.
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- Limbered Ammunition Wagon, date of manufacture unknown, but probably just pre WW1. An articulated two-part vehicle with good cross-country capability. Carried either Small Arms Ammunition or Artillery Shells. Drawn by a pair of horses or a team of four, depending on conditions.
Story and images by Joyce Dudeney
