Logistic Support in the BEF

Logistics for the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) between 1914 and 1918 transformed from a small-scale mobile system into a massive industrial enterprise. By 1918, the "logistic tail" grew to comprise 20% of the total British Army, up from only 3% at the start of the war.

Key Logistics Organizations

Army Service Corps (ASC): The primary organization responsible for transport and the supply of food, fuel, and fodder.

Army Ordnance Corps (AOC): Managed the supply of weaponry, ammunition, and equipment.

Labour Corps (formed 1917): Provided the manual labor required for unloading ships and maintaining infrastructure.

Royal Engineers (RE): Handled specialized technical logistics, including railway construction, water supply, and signal communications.