The War Department was the United Kingdom government department responsible for the supply of equipment to the armed forces of the United Kingdom and the pursuance of military activity. In 1857, it became the War Office. Within the War Office, the name 'War Department' remained in use to describe the military transport services of the War Department Fleet and the War Department Railways.
In 1794, the position of Secretary of State for War was created. The Secretary's department was at first unofficially known as the War Department. Colonial affairs were later added and it became the Colony Department. After the outbreak of war with revolutionary France it became Colony and War Department and on the restoration of peace in 1815 the Colonial Department. In February 1855, the offices of the Secretary of State for War, and Secretary at War were merged and the new department and became the War Department once again until 1857 when it became the War Office. In 1964, the department became the Ministry of Defence.
War Department Railwaysedit
One aspect of the War Department's work was the supply of locomotives and rolling stock for use on railways in the United Kingdom, other parts of the British Empire, and in theatres of conflict.
In World War II, large numbers of steam locomotives were produced, as well as some diesel locomotives, of varying gauges to suit the area of planned operation. After the end of the war, these locomotives were largely disposed of to various railways around the world, though some were retained for peacetime use on UK military railways. Of those that were sold, examples of three types ended up as part of the British Railways fleet (where they were often referred to as 'Austerity' locos):
Allied Military Locomotives of the Second World War, R. Tourret, Tourret Publishing, ISBN0-905878-06-X.
March 17, 2024
department, united, kingdom, department, united, kingdom, government, department, responsible, supply, equipment, armed, forces, united, kingdom, pursuance, military, activity, 1857, became, office, within, office, name, department, remained, describe, militar. The War Department was the United Kingdom government department responsible for the supply of equipment to the armed forces of the United Kingdom and the pursuance of military activity In 1857 it became the War Office Within the War Office the name War Department remained in use to describe the military transport services of the War Department Fleet and the War Department Railways War Department Ordnance Survey Marker Bermuda showing the WD broad arrow symbol top Contents 1 History 2 War Department Railways 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory editIn 1794 the position of Secretary of State for War was created The Secretary s department was at first unofficially known as the War Department Colonial affairs were later added and it became the Colony Department After the outbreak of war with revolutionary France it became Colony and War Department and on the restoration of peace in 1815 the Colonial Department In February 1855 the offices of the Secretary of State for War and Secretary at War were merged and the new department and became the War Department once again until 1857 when it became the War Office In 1964 the department became the Ministry of Defence War Department Railways editOne aspect of the War Department s work was the supply of locomotives and rolling stock for use on railways in the United Kingdom other parts of the British Empire and in theatres of conflict In World War I the War Department ran the War Department Light Railways which were a system of narrow gauge trench railways used for the supply of ammunition and stores the transport of troops and the evacuation of the wounded In World War II large numbers of steam locomotives were produced as well as some diesel locomotives of varying gauges to suit the area of planned operation After the end of the war these locomotives were largely disposed of to various railways around the world though some were retained for peacetime use on UK military railways Of those that were sold examples of three types ended up as part of the British Railways fleet where they were often referred to as Austerity locos Hunslet Austerity 0 6 0ST BR numbers 68006 68080 WD Austerity Class 8F 2 8 0 BR numbers 90000 90732 WD Austerity Class 8F 2 10 0 BR numbers 90750 90774For more details see the Steam locomotives of British RailwaysSee also editBroad arrowReferences editAllied Military Locomotives of the Second World War R Tourret Tourret Publishing ISBN 0 905878 06 X Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title War Department United Kingdom amp oldid 1120582017, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
