issuers, and civilians were employed at every station at home to
take the place of Army Service Corps clerks."[32]

[Footnote 32: Statement of Quartermaster-General, 23rd
September, 1902.]

[Sidenote: Local Drivers relieve A.S.C.]

On the other hand, the nature of the transport in South Africa
rendered the employment of native mule and ox drivers almost
imperative. A surplus of Army Service Corps drivers was thus created
sufficient to enable 600 to be lent to the Royal artillery, leaving
enough to be retained for duty at home and abroad. The duties of four
remount depots in Cape Colony and one in Natal were also carried out
by the Army Service Corps during the first part of the war until
relieved by remount depots from England and India.

[Sidenote: Early despatch of A.S.C.]

A notable feature in connection with the Army Service Corps was its
employment, before the outbreak of hostilities, in a role that was
essentially preparatory. For the first time in the history of the
corps, transport companies and supply detachments were sent in advance
of the troops whom they were to serve, and prepared the way for them.
With the despatch of two companies in July to make good the transport
of the existing force in South Africa, five officers also proceeded to
South Africa to assist in organising the supply and transport duties
in the event of a large force being sent out.[33] Further embarkations
took place in September and October, and the remainder of the Army
Service Corps units, detailed for duty with the army corps, embarked
before war had actually been declared, and before any of the troops of
the army corps had sailed. The advantages attending these measures
were that not only did all units on arriving at their concentration
stations in South Africa find their transport ready for them, but the
transport and supply services generally were organised and in working
order for their share of the operations.

[Footnote 33: The General Officer Commanding South Africa had
applied for special service officers acquainted with "B."
duties.]

_Royal Army Medical Corps._

In respect of preparations, even up to the two army corps standard,
the Royal Army Medical Corps was weak in numbers. Barely sufficient in
its personnel even for peace requirements, it possessed no
organisation for expansion in war. The establishment of officers was
designed to provide for the bearer companies a