TOPIC:

Some images from the book by John P Wisser:

David
Thanks heaps for showing the series of pics. I have a QSA to a chap who served in the Steam Road Transport (he was a civilian) and prior to buying the medal, I had always assumed the RE's managed to run the SRT. It seems there is a book on the subject?
Best wishes
IL.

Ian - there is, I'll get the details tonight unless someone beats me to it.

David - were those pictures of the armoured wagons taken in SA during the war?

I have read a reference to armoured wagons being required in response to the various ambushes of British columns.

Regards
Meurig

Meurig
I Google'd "John P. Wisser" and it seems he wrote several books on assorted military matters. Not sure which one the SRT pics came from, however. The SRT was apparently first employed by Buller to move supplies on the Tugela front (they were termed "steam sappers" - the exact reference escapes me just now) and the army must have run short of chaps to run them because civilians were enlisted. I really don't think many people realise how advanced the military thinking was at that time; a wireless unit (Marconi) was seriously tried and would have helped eliminate pesky guerilla bands had the state-of-the-art been better developed. The SRT would have been able to apply much greater traction than a span of draught animals; the only problems would have been water supply and decent firewood. When I get the chance, I will do a pic of my SRT QSA and supply details of it's recipient.
Regards
IL.

Hello Ian

The book I had in mind is:

Steam Traction in the Royal Engineers
Col J Nowers
North Kent Books, Rochester, Kent 1994
ISBN 0-948305-07-X

It is very detailed with lots of pictures. In addition to steam he touches on electrical engineers.

Regards
Meurig

Meurig
Thanks for that; ordered a "s/h-but-as-new" copy from amazon just now. I am in the process of digging out some info re SRT in ABW and will post it when I have finished trawling.
Best regards
IL.