First World War: Transport

The reverse reads: ‘Never ending are the tasks of Britain’s transport. Her ports are busy, day and night the work never ceases, for shipload after shipload of men, munitions, and supplies must be sent to her far-flung armies. In the dockyards and at the great junctions, the A.S.C are loading and unloading; trains must hurry on their course, for, far away, transport motors are waiting to take up their burdens, and hurry them off to the fighting line. Five million Britons are under arms, and our Allies must also be supplied with food, munitions and clothing. The transport section of the Army Service Corps is doing splendid work.'

In some areas, especially around London, short connecting lines were built to allow the railway system to function more efficiently. Railways were crucial for conveying troops and their equipment and many camps were provided with new branch lines and sidings as were new munitions factories. Canal transport remained important to local economies, but similarly suffered from a lack of investment.

Hostilities brought an end to civilian cross-channel shipping and many ferries were requisitioned as troop transports and hospital ships, and some were painted in dazzle camouflage to confuse U-boat crews. Dover and Folkestone were two of the most important embarkation ports. At Dover, the new and nearly completed Dover Marine station was pressed into service for troop embarkation and receiving the wounded. In recognition of its role the South Eastern and Chatham’s Railway’s war memorial was placed at Dover, it and the station are listed Grade II. At Richborough, Kent a new port was built and included the world’s first roll-on roll-off rail ferry; the connecting rail bridge survives at Harwich, and is listed Grade II.

On the roads the requisitioning of draft horses for the army reduced the amount of freight that could be carried. Mechanised road transport was in its infancy, although steam wagons, and petrol and diesel lorries were increasingly used for shorter journeys. Post-war the sale of surplus military vehicles greatly accelerated this trend.