UBIQUITOUS

Grey River Argus, 3 June 1942, Page 6

UBIQUITOUS

Lifeline Unit A.S.C. CARRIES ALL. (By THE CHIEF REPORTER) (No. .IX). Let us now praise famous men.

If all other units played at soldiers in this jstahd-to hour—which they emphatically don’t! —the mi;i-l-tary; scene would not be vastly changed so Itmg as the Army Service Corps continued.to .do its job. But if tne A.S.C. downed tools, parked its cars and. trucks and went on holiday, the. whole army set-up would fall down in chaos.

. That is beyond argument. For the A.S.C. is the .'general carrier of the army. Ari all-purposes, utility . unit, it is everywhere, ready to -perform every conceivable job. It drives infantry, transports ariimunitidn, weapons,, petrol, stores. The A.S.C. is butbher, baker and dairyman to the whole -military outfit. If you break your leg or fall sick it drives you to hospital. Have you scoria to spread on trie road into the camp it brings it. In a tight spot it can -fight, too, Fight with rifles, automatic weapons or the bayonet. No< longer is it noncombatant. . . , And the A.S.C. man attached to a Field Ambulance unit is a fully-trained ambulance man into the bargain, ready to succour the wounded, injured or sick. A BIG UNIT When New modern standing army was mobilised a few' months ago it was not a substantial unit, as numbers go. Almost overnight it blossemed into huge proportions, and its strength is being increased week by week. A great part of the A.S..C personnel is handpicked. . . , , Every type of man is ,in demand. Neat-writing,.-fast-typing clerks to compile the mass of detail on. record sheets. Accountants to keep and analyse find balance the headquarters returns. Skilled mechanics to mend the cars and trucks. -Expert •drivers for every type . °t vehicle, from the brigadier’s ..pennanved limousine down to the little van which does a 'quick round with oddments. Storemen, bakers, butchers, dairymen, St. John trained men are preference to drive and service the Field Ambulance units.