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Postcards of the Army Service Corps 1902 - 1918 (Hardback)

Coming of Age

Military Photographic Books WWI > By Year > 1914 WWI > By Year > 1915 WWI > By Year > 1916 WWI > By Year > 1917 WWI > By Year > 1918 WWI > Photographic Books

By Michael Young
Imprint: Pen & Sword Military
Pages: 271
Illustrations: 540
ISBN: 9781473878136
Published: 22nd September 2016

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Postcards of the Army Service Corps 1902 – 1918 presents the early history of the Army Service Corps of the British Army by means of a unique collection of some 540 images, mainly contemporary postcards. The conduct of war changed dramatically in the late Victorian era, after the debacle in the Crimean War and humiliating setbacks in the Boer War. Commanders realized the vital importance of logistics in any campaign. The formation of the ASC marked a significant milestone in the modernisation of the Army and it was fortunate that by the outbreak of The Great War the Corps was well established in the Order of Battle. The development and introduction of mechanical transport was to play a vital role throughout the 1914 – 1918 war and the ASC was pivotal to this.

The images displayed in this superb book represent life in the ASC at a crucial period of its history. They show the personal side of soldiering as opposed to the more formal official perspective. All have been collected and captioned by the author who is the foremost expert on the Corps history. The result is a stunning array of images that capture military life as it was over 100 years ago.

If you are interested in the regular Images of War books on this period, then this should appeal to you – the pictures are reasonably varied, and illustrate an important part of the British Army, without which the fighting arms would have soon run out of supplies.

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History of War

This book is obviously brimming with transport-specific imagery. But, see quote above, it also illustrates the more personal side of soldiering.

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Sabu Dvani - Speed Readers

Michael Young has produced a superb book that brings to life this diverse group of soldiers whose contribution has been largely ignored in the history of WW1. As the grandchild of an ASC man I never knew, and whose record does not survive, I can now see what he would have been doing in the Motor Transport section. Telling history through postcards works. So, if you are researching an Army Service Corps soldier, I would urge you to start with this book.

Friends of the National Archives

This excellent work brings together over 500 images - the vast majority of a photographic nature, although there are a number of colour plates of the more familiar artist-drawn postcards many will be aware of - which serve to record the life and work of the men who served with the Army Service Corps. It forms a first-class photographic archive, prefaces by a short and well written history of the ASC. The book is printed on quality paper and the black-and-white photos are all first-rate throughout.

Excellent work. 10/10

The Great War Magazine, January 2017

His latest work is simply fantastic stuff. A collection of some 540 postcards, in the main photographic images of soldiers of the ASC, their vehicles and equipment. The quality of reproduction is superb and for any student of the army of this period it really is a must. The book includes good captions, a chapter of deeper explanation and a useful index. Field bakeries and butcheries, vehicle repair workshops, transport both horse and mechanical: they are all here and in wonderful detail.

Read the full review here.

The Long Long Trail

As featured in

Antiques Diary, January-February 2017

A curious and interesting book for lovers of old photos and the history of the British Army.

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José Manuél Rico Cortés (Mister JM) - Miniaturas JM

This book is a visual celebration of the achievements of the Army Service Corps in turning around the logistics disaster of the Crimean War into a modern supply system that, from 1902, provided a dependable supply system for the British Army.A fascinating story that is recommended.

Read the full review here.

Firetrench

There are a growing number of books from specialist publisher Pen and Sword celebrating the Great War in various ways - postcards are a particular favourite in dealers' shops and at car boot sales and in charity shops, and author Michael Young's specialism is postcards of the ASC from the turn of the century until the end of the Great War. This is a fascinating book from cover to cover, celebrating the art of the postcard as it makes its way through early twentieth century history. A superb collection, brilliantly presented in book form. Anyone with a passing interest in history will love this book.

Books Monthly, November 2016 – reviewed by Paul Norman

The Army Service Corps ('Royal' after 1918) was responsible for a vast array of services and infrastructure which enabled the army to march, both on its stomach and otherwise. It's hard to imagine exactly every type of activity it undertook, from administering barracks to feeding troops in field kitchens, running the Army Fire Service to little details such as ordering stationery supplies. Thankfully, with this book no such imagining is required - here are an astonishing 450 postcards depicting the people, equipment and vehicles of the ASC and the work they undertook.

The focus here is the years 1902-1918, under the theme 'coming of age', in other words when the ASC was at its peak of operational success. The book explores its work both on the Home Front and in a variety of overseas theatres of war.

What makes this so valuable a collection (aided by the captions from the author, a leading expert on the ASC's history) is the human face the postcards put on it all, often with a twinkle in the eye.

Read it for: A remarkable collection of early 20th century army images

Your Family History, November 2016

5 STARS - Michael Young's acclaimed history of the ASC has long been within arm's reach on my bookshelves and this new publication will be going right alongside it. This is a superb book with good, well produced images and helpful captions. I can see that I will be poring over this with a magnifying glass for many years to come. There's an index which will help with finding specific companies, helpful notes and a good, concise introduction. In short, this ticks all the boxes. Grab a copy before it goes out of print.

Amazon reviewer

5 Stars!

The name of Michael Young and the Army Service Corps are closely linked. He is the author of a very valuable and sought-after work of reference on this unsung part of the British Army of the Great War, “Army Service Corps 1902 – 1918”, and at various times has been an officer of the descendant of the Corps, the curator of its museum and editor of its journal.

His latest work is simply fantastic stuff. A collection of some 540 postcards, in the main photographic images of soldiers of the ASC, their vehicles and equipment. The quality of reproduction is superb and for any student of the army of this period it really is a must. The book includes good captions, a chapter of deeper explanation and a useful index. Field bakeries and butcheries, vehicle repair workshops, transport both horse and mechanical: they are all here and in wonderful detail.

Chris Baker - Amazon

5 STAR REVIEW!
Another superb book by Michael Young, recommended reading for anyone interested in military history, postcards or social history.

Amazon reviewer

5 STAR REVIEW!
A wealth of amazing images with interesting captioning and text. Mike Young must be the foremost expert and collector of Army Service Corps material and this book is of the same high standard as his previous works.

Amazon reviewer

A fantastic book! A great companion to the Army Service Corps 1902-1918 by the same author, who should be congratulated on another fine book. My Grandfather served in the ASC from 1914 to 1919, this book is a great insight to what he and others did. Thank you ...

Stuart M - Amazon Customer

About Michael Young

Michael Young served in the Royal Army Service Corps and Royal Corps of Transport for thirty three years. After retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1987 he became Curator of the RASC and RCT Museum and Editor of the Corps Journal, The Waggoner. On the formation of the Royal Logistic Corps in 1993 he became Editor of the Corps Journal before retiring in 2000. Over the period 1987 to 2014 he was a member and Trustee of numerous regimental committees.

Among his published works is Army Service Corps 1902 – 1918 (Pen and Sword Books, 2000) and his wide knowledge of Corps history is in demand from authors across the world.

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