Royal Logistic Corps

The Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) provides logistic support functions to the British Army. It is the largest Corps in the Army, comprising around 17% of its strength. The RLC flag is dark blue with the Corps Badge emblazoned on the centre.

History
The Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) was formed on Monday, 5 April 1993, by the union of five British Army corps:


 * Royal Corps of Transport
 * Royal Army Ordnance Corps
 * Royal Pioneer Corps
 * Army Catering Corps
 * Royal Engineers Postal and Courier Service

The RLC comprises both Regular and Territorial Army units.

The RLC is the only (Combat Service Support) Corps of the British Army with battle honours, derived from the usage of previous transport elements (Royal Waggon Train, etc.) as heavy cavalry. The battle honours are:


 * Peninsula
 * Battle of Waterloo
 * Lucknow
 * Taku Forts
 * Pekin

Cap Badge
The RLC cap badge is an amalgamation of the cap badges of the forming corps:


 * The star is from the Royal Corps of Transport
 * The crossed axes are from the Royal Pioneer Corps
 * The laurel and garter band is from the Royal Engineers
 * The shield in the centre is from the Royal Army Ordnance Corps
 * The motto, "We Sustain", is from the Army Catering Corps

The inscription on the garter band "Honi soit qui mal y pense" can be translated as "Evil to him who evil thinks". It is often seen on the insignia of Regiments and Corps with 'Royal' in their title.

Available trades

 * Ammunition Technician (Ammo Tech)
 * Chef
 * Driver
 * Driver / Tank Transporter
 * Driver / Air Despatcher
 * Driver / Communications specialist
 * Driver / Port Operator
 * Driver / Vehicle Support Specialist
 * Logistic Supply Specialist (LSS)
 * Marine Engineer
 * Movement Controller
 * Operational Hygiene Specialist
 * Petroleum Operator
 * Photographer
 * Pioneer
 * Postal and Courier Operator
 * Rail Operator
 * Mariner/Navigator
 * Systems Analyst

Regular Army
Notable minor units and joint units with a large RLC element include:
 * RHQ The RLC. located at the "Home of the Corps", Deepcut. Headed by Col RLC.
 * Army School of Ammunition (ASA) - Renamed Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Munitions and Search School (DEMSS) in 2009
 * 1 Logistic Support Regiment RLC
 * 2 Logistic Support Regiment RLC
 * 3 Logistic Support Regiment RLC
 * 4 Logistic Support Regiment RLC
 * 5 Training Regiment RLC
 * 6 Regiment RLC
 * 7 Regiment RLC
 * 9 Regiment RLC
 * 10 Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment
 * 11 EOD Regiment RLC
 * 12 Logistic Support Regiment. Disbands at Abingdon 2014.
 * 13 Air Assault Support Regiment
 * 15 Air Assault Close Support Squadron
 * 17 Port and Maritime Regiment - included 79 Railway Squadron. The Regiment has three Port Squadrons, a Port Enabling Squadron, a REME Workshop and a Headquarters Squadron. It operates a wide variety of vehicles, plant, railway equipment and vessels, including Ramp Craft Logistic (RCL), Workboats, Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel (LCVP), MEXEFLOTE rafts and Rigid Raider Craft. It also has the only military Dive Team in the RLC; they are responsible for a range of tasks including port clearance and vessel maintenance. Part of 104th Logistic Support Brigade.
 * 23 Pioneer Regiment RLC - Disbands Bicester in 2013/14. Part of 104th Logistic Support Brigade.
 * 24 Regiment - planned to disband in Germany, August 2013. Part of 104th Logistic Support Brigade.
 * 25 Regiment
 * 27 Regiment
 * 29 Postal Courier and Movement Regiment RLC (RAF South Cerney?) Part of 104th Logistic Support Brigade.
 * ARRC Support Battalion (an All Arms unit with logistic squadrons making up the bulk of the battalion)
 * 21 & 23 UKSF(R) Support Squadron's provides support staff to UKSF Units, activities including personnel such as Drivers,Technicins,EOD all selected from the RLC.
 * 20 Logistic Support Squadron, London District
 * 89 Postal and Courier Unit, (SHAPE)
 * 105 Logistic Support Squadron, (BATUS)
 * 132 Aviation Supply Squadron, 16th Air Assault Brigade
 * Cyprus Service Support Unit, (British Forces Cyprus)
 * Joint Helicopter Support Squadron, RAF Odiham, a combined RLC / RAF unit.

Disbanded Units: Drivers, Technicians, EOD all selected from the RLC.
 * 8 Regiment. The Regiment formed in 1964 at Munster, Germany as 8 Transport Column, RASC at the height of the Cold War. Initially based in Nelson Barracks, it moved to Portsmouth Barracks and was disbanded in York Barracks on 27 March 2012. The regiment consisted of 3, 5, 13 and 27 Squadrons and in its time had attached pioneers from the RPC, and infantry from a resident Munster battalion as Force Protection. It worked closely with the American Custodial Detachment whose role was maintenance of nuclear warheads and weapons components. The regiment directly supported the Gunners (The Royal Regiment of Artillery), firstly 24, 39 and 50 Missile Regiments and later the Multi-Launch Rocket System (MLRS) Regiments. This latter task was carried out in the UK from barracks at Catterick,1993-2008.
 * 19 Combat Service Support Battalion- a combined unit with a logistical squadron and an Equipment Support company. Disbanded N Ireland December 2012.
 * 44 Support Squadron, (Royal Military Academy Sandhurst)

Territorial Army

 * Operational Headquarters Support Group
 * The Scottish Transport Regiment
 * Catering Support Regiment
 * 88 Postal and Courier Regiment
 * 150 (Yorkshire) Transport Regiment
 * 151st (London) Transport Regiment
 * 152 (Ulster) Transport Regiment (Volunteers)
 * 155 (Wessex) Transport Regiment
 * 156 (North-West) Transport Regiment
 * The Welsh Transport Regiment
 * 158 (Royal Anglian) Transport Regiment
 * 159 Supply Regiment
 * 160 Transport Regiment
 * 162 Movement Control Regiment
 * 165 Port & Maritime Regiment
 * 166 Supply Regiment
 * 168 Pioneer Regiment
 * 223 Swansea
 * 224 (Pembroke Yeomanry) Squadron RLC.
 * 383 Commando Petroleum Troop
 * 395 Air Dispatch Troop

Headquarters
The Corps Headquarters is at Dettingen House within Princess Royal Barracks in Deepcut near Camberley, Surrey. It is headed by a Colonel (Colonel RLC) as the professional head of the Corps. Col RLC is responsible for the Moral Component, regimental infrastructure and support and works to the Adjutant General (AG).

An update was given at Deepcut on 9 February 2012 on the future planned move of HQ RLC & Defence Logistics School from Deepcut to Worthy Down (Project KESTREL) the date of 2018 is now projected for moves, with new buildings being built from April 2015 with 'ring-fenced' cash not affected by the 'Strategic Defence Review'. The plans are subject to confirmation by the Central Staffs, however a "No move before..." 2015 remains.

Master General of Logistics
There is also a ceremonial head (instituted in 2009), who heads the Corps and its wider family such as the Associations and Cadets, known as the Master General of Logistics (MGL). The first MGL was General Sir Kevin O'Donoghue, who held until December 2010 the post of Chief of Defence Materiel, the senior military post associated with supply and acquisition in the Ministry of Defence. The latest MGL, appointed on 1 June 2012, is Major General Mark Poffley. He is currently serving in MOD, Whitehall.


 * General Sir Kevin O'Donoghue (2009-2012)
 * Major General Mark Poffley (2012–present)

Publications
The RAOC Gazette, The Waggoner and the Link are still published every 6 months as a Membership Newsletters of the Forming Corps Associations, and as a sub-section of 'The Sustainer, House journal of The Royal Logistic Corps'. The latter is quarterly magazine published as the Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer editions. The Pioneer will continue to be published from Bicester until 2015, after which it will be published 6 monthly as is the Waggoner.

Ceremonial Chief
The current Colonel-in-Chief (an honorary position) is HRH The Princess Royal. The Deputy Colonels-in-Chief are HRH The Duke of Gloucester and HRH The Duchess of Kent.



Nicknames
The corps is nicknamed "The Really Large Corps" (a play on its abbreviation RLC), "The Loggies", and by derogatory titles referencing supply such as "Blanket Stackers" or "Duvet Technicians". The Corps forms approximately 17% of the British Army and is the single largest component of the Army. Royal Logistic Corps soldiers can belong to any one or more of the 20 trade groups.

Affiliations
The corps has the alliances with the logistic units of Australia, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka. It is affiliated with 4 Livery Companies of the City of London including the Worshipful Company of Launderers.

Achievements
In the 2004 Olympic Games held in Athens, the Royal Logistic Corps had the most athletes from the British Army competing in the Games. These were Private Musa Audu (Nigeria), Private Seidu Duah (Ghana), Lance Corporal Josephus Thomas (Sierra Leone) and Corporal Joselyn Thomas (Sierra Leone). Private Audu achieved success at the Olympics when he was part of 4 x 400m relay final that won the Bronze medal for Nigeria.

Honours

 * Victoria Cross

The RLC has five Victoria Cross holders; these all derive historically from establishments that eventually became the Royal Corps of Transport.


 * Private Samuel Morley VC. Military Train. 15 April 1858.
 * Private (Farrier) Michael Murphy VC (forfeited and re-listed). Military Train. 15 April 1858.
 * Assistant Commissary James Langley Dalton VC. Commissariat & Transport Department. 22 January 1879.
 * Second Lieutenant Alfred Cecil Herring VC. Army Service Corps. 23 March 1918.
 * Private Richard George Masters VC. Army Service Corps. 9 April 1918.


 * Albert Medal

The RLC has ten Albert Medal (lifesaving) holders from its former Corps. Two of the holders exchanged their Albert Medals for the George Cross in 1971.


 * Lieutenant SA Rowlandson. Army Service Corps. 21 May 1916.
 * Staff Sergeant TM Walton. Army Service Corps. 21 May 1916.
 * Private A Anderson. Army Service Corps. 21 May 1916.
 * Private JT Lawrence. Army Service Corps. 21 May 1916.
 * Major LC Bearne DSO. Army Service Corps. 22 October 1916.
 * Private AS Usher. Army Service Corps. 22 October 1916.
 * Private A Johnson. Army Service Corps. 30 June 1918.
 * Driver A Horne. Army Service Corps. 30 June 1918.
 * Lieutenant G Rackham. Royal Army Service Corps. 27 October 1918. (Exchanged for GC)
 * Private WC Cleall. Royal Army Service Corps. 11 August 1919. (Exchanged for GC)
 * Private DJ Baker. Royal Logistic Corps. 27 Augaust 2001. George Cross

The RLC has eleven holders of the George Cross, six from the RAOC, one from the Royal Pioneer Corps and one from the Royal Army Service Corps. Three GCs have been awarded to members of the RLC.
 * George Cross


 * Lieutenant William Eastman GC. Royal Army Ordnance Corps. 24 December 1940.
 * Captain Robert Jephson-Jones GC. Royal Army Ordnance Corps. 24 December 1940.
 * Corporal James Scully GC. Royal Pioneer Corps. 8 July 1941.
 * Major Kenneth Biggs GC. Royal Army Ordnance Corps. 11 October 1946.
 * Staff Sergeant Sidney Rogerson GC. Royal Army Ordnance Corps. 11 October 1946.
 * Driver Joseph Hughes GC. Royal Army Service Corps. 26 June 1947.
 * Major Stephen Styles GC. Royal Army Ordnance Corps. 11 January 1972.
 * Warrant Officer Class 1 Barry Johnson GC. Royal Army Ordnance Corps. 6 November 1990.
 * Captain Peter Norton GC. Royal Logistic Corps. 24 July 2005.
 * Staff Sergeant Kim Spencer Hughes GC, Royal Logistic Corps 19 March 2010.
 * Staff Sergeant Olaf Sean Schmid GC, Royal Logistic Corps 19 March 2010.

The RLC has one hundred and fifteen holders of the George Medal from all of its former Corps, including nineteen from the Royal Army Service Corps, sixty-seven from the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, thirteen from the Royal Pioneer Corps, one from the Army Catering Corps and fifteen to the RLC including one first bar. The first George Medals awarded to the RAOC were to Lieutenant R Chalkley and Captain DAS Martin on 13 December 1940 for conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in Great Britain and Gibraltar respectively.
 * George Medal


 * Private L McGariggle GM Royal Pioneer Corps 27 July 1951.
 * Private A Hilton GM Royal Army Ordnance Corps 20 April 1954.
 * Lieutenant Colonel MH Mackenzie Orr GM Royal Army Ordnance Corps 18 March 1974.
 * Warrant Officer Class 1 JRT Balding GM Royal Logistic Corps 12 October 1993, this was the first GM awarded to a member of the newly formed Royal Logistic Corps.
 * Warrant Officer Class 1 NB Thomsen GM Royal Logistic Corps 1995.
 * Warrant Officer Class 2 A Islam GM QGM Royal Logistic Corps 1997.
 * Captain R Baker GM Royal Logistic Corps, 2000
 * Captain J Priestly GM Royal Logistic Corps, 2000
 * Warrant Officer Class 2 Gary John O'Donnell, Royal Logistic Corps. 15 December 2006. O'Donnell was later killed by an IED whilst serving in Afghanistan. He was later posthumously awarded a second GM in March 2009 for "repeated and sustained acts of immense bravery" for his actions in Afghanistan in two separate incidents in May and July 2008.


 * Captain DM Shepherd GM Royal Logistic Corps, 19 March 2010. Killed in Afghanistan whilst clearing Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) during his tour on Op HERRICK.
 * Warrant Officer Class 2 Karl Ley GM Royal Logisitc Corps 24 September 2010.
 * Staff Sergeant BG Linley GM Royal Logistic Corps 25 March 2011. Killed in Afghanistan whilst conducting Improvised Explosive Device Disposal tasks during his tour on Op HERRICK in 2010.


 * Conspicuous Gallantry Cross


 * Staff Sergeant JA Wadsworth CGC, Royal Logistic Corps. 7 March 2008

Members of the RLC have received 6 awards of the Military Cross since 1993, 2 for actions in Iraq, the remainder for actions in Afghanistan.
 * Military Cross


 * Lance Corporal DG Dickson MC Royal Logistic Corps (The Scottish Transport Regiment) Volunteers, 23 March 2005.
 * Captain SD Bratcher MC Royal Logistic Corps, 24 March 2006.
 * Major ID Scattergood MBE MC Royal Logistic Corps, 25 July 2008.
 * Staff Sergeant GD Wood MC Royal Logistic Corps, 24 September 2010.
 * Captain SA Scott MC Royal Logistic Corps, 25 March 2011.
 * Warrant Officer Class 2 JL Palmer MC Royal Logistic Corps, 30 September 2011.

The RLC has one hundred and nine holders of the Queen's Gallantry Medal, two from the Royal Corps of Transport, sixty seven from the Royal Army Ordnance Corps including one first bar and forty to the RLC including two first bars.
 * Queen's Gallantry Medal


 * Captain G O'Sullivan MBE QGM, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, 16 April 1984
 * Warrant Officer Class 1 EL Bienkowski QGM Royal Army Ordnance Corps 14 April 1987
 * Warrant Officer Class 1 RJ McLelland QGM, Royal Logistic Corps. 21 November 1994
 * Warrant Officer Class 2 CRG Grant QGM, Royal Logistic Corps 11 September 2009
 * Staff Sergeant J Lester QGM, Royal Logistic Corps, 11 September 2009
 * Captain WEJ Owers QGM, Royal Logistic Corps, 19 March 2010
 * Lance Corporal DJ Timmins QGM, Royal Logistic Corps, 19 March 2010
 * Staff Sergeant WE McFarland QGM, Royal Logistic Corps, March 2011
 * Captain JP Fidell QGM Royal Logistic Corps, 23 March 2012 - Capt Fidell has the honour of being the 100th award of the QGM to an Ammunition Technician/Ammunition Technical Officer IEDD Operator of the RAOC/RLC since the inception of the QGM in 1974.


 * Bar to Queen's Gallantry Medal
 * WO1 GR Ferguson QGM*, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, 1986
 * Captain EC Heakin QGM*, Royal Logistic Corps, 7 March 2008
 * Captain VM Strafford QGM*, Royal Logistic Corps, 7 March 2008

Fatalities
The Royal Logistic Corps has lost 39 Corps members on operations to date (4 May 2012): 9 in Northern Ireland, 10 in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, 5 in Iraq and 15 in Afghanistan.