A
Corps was a formation of the Army that in 1914 was composed
of 2 Divisions,
with a Signals Cable Section of the Royal
Engineers.
It was properly titled an 'Army Corps', but the full name
was usually shortened. Corps, normally commanded by a Lieutenant-General,
reported up to GHQ, and later, to Army HQ. (Although in the
smaller theatres, Corps usually reported to HQ or GHQ). The
Corps HQ consisted of 18 officers and 71 other ranks. The
Divisions were permanently attached to their Corps. For example,
the II Corps, of the first contingent of the BEF that fought
at the Battle of Mons consisted
of 3rd and 5th Divisions.
However,
as the army grew
in size the
composition of the Corps changed considerably.
The
number of Divisions under the command of the Corps remained
nominally at two, but could be increased if fighting conditions
required. Divisions were moved from Corps to Corps as they
came in and out of the line, and were moved from place
to place. The Corps HQ generally remained fixed in place,
while the Divisions were moved around. Corps were gradually
given more responsibility for the supply lines and other
features of their area, so the specialist units directly
under Corps command also increased. The latter included
heavy artillery, from April 1916 onwards.
By
the late stages of the war, Corps HQ had grown to consist
of 50 officers and 141 other ranks. Corps troops included
a cavalry regiment, the heavy artillery (including a motor
transport company), a heavy trench mortar battery, a cyclist
battalion, signal troops, a motor transport column, mobile
workshops of the Army Ordnance Corps an an Area Employment
Company. In all, this would amount to perhaps 2000 officers
and men, depending on the Divisions under command at any
time. The establishment varied in theatres other than the
Western Front, and were generally smaller.
The
average Tommy rarely knew which Corps he was in. Firstly
he was moved among them at frequent intervals, and secondly
the Corps rarely had a 'character' of its own, due to the
temporary nature of its make-up.
Corps
were always identified by Roman numerals.
|
| The
Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineers are also known as the
Corps of Royal Artillery, and the Corps of Royal Engineers.
There are also the Machine Gun Corps, the Tank Corps, the Army
Pay Corps, the Army Ordnance Corps, the Royal Army Medical
Corps, and the Army Service Corps. The designation 'Corps'
in these cases has nothing to do with the order of battle hierarchy
as described above, and is used similarly to the word 'Regiment'
in the infantry. It's all to do with long history, and esprit-de-corps ;-) |
