THE HISTORY
OF
THE 3RD TRANSPORT SQUADRON
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN CORPS OF TRANSPORT
WORLD WAR 1
The unit was formed on the 17th August 1914 as 3 Company (Coy) AASC, the third of four such companies which made up the 1st Divisional Train Australian Army Service Corps.
3 Coy departed Australia from Melbourne on 22 Oct 1914 and arrived at
Mena Camp (Egypt) on 14 Dec 1914, under command of Capt J. G. TEDDER.
At Egypt 3 Coy conducted supply operations of the 1st Division. On 5-7
April 1915 3 Coy boarded HMTS MASHOBRA and sailed for LEMNOS arriving
on 9 April 1915. 3 Coy landed at KABA TEPE (ANZAC) on 1 May 1915.
3 Coy's main role on Anzac was the resupply of the Division. There is
no recorded date of departure of 3 Coy from Anzac but from diaries it
appears that the unit departed on or about 18 Dec 1915.
During February 1916 the reorganisation of the Australian Imperial Force was conducted to conform to the Imperial Establishments. Due to this reorganisation all surplus men and horses from 1st Divisional Train were transferred to establish the 4th and 5th Divisions. 3 Coy departed Alexandria on 26 March 1916 for France and arrived at Marseilles on 1 April 1916. Departed Marseilles on the 3 April 1916 by train for Amiens and arrived on 4 April 1916. 3 Coy role was Divisional Tasking and supporting the 2nd Infantry Brigade of the First Division on the Western Front. 3 Coy supported the First Division throughout the rest of the War in France. The unit was disbanded in March 1919 in Belgium.
BETWEEN THE WARS
There is no record of the unit between the wars.
WORLD WAR 2
The 6th Division Service Corps contained the following companies Supply, Petrol and Ammunition. The 6th Division was withdrawn to Syria after service in North Africa, Greece and Crete. Just prior to the 6 Div returning to Australia the Service Corp was reorganised and this was implemented on 13 January 1942. The reorganisation was as follows;
a. 6 Aust Div Sup Coy
b. 6 Aust Div Pet Coy
c. 6 Aust Div Amn Coy
The 6 Aust Div Amn Coy was formally changed to 3 Company Australian Army Service Corp 6th Division ( 3 Coy AASC 6 Aust Div). Its main role was Divisional Transport and worked closely with 19 Brigade within the Division particularly 2/4 Infantry Battalion during the whole war.
3 Coy departed Hill
69 (near Suez) on 13 Feb 42 for Port Sudan. They then departed Port Sudan
on 16 Feb 42 for Australia aboard the M.V. ARONDA. 29 March 42 arrived
at Adelaide and billeted at Bridgewater (HQ Bridgewater Hotel). 30 April
42 3 Coy vehicles cleared of the " ST ESSYLT " from the Middle
East.
3 Coy then redeployed north via the following locations;
a. 17 May 42 Terowie
b. 21 May 42 Alice Springs
c. 22 May 42 Larrimah/Barrow Creek
d. 25 May 42 Adelaide River
e. 13 Aug 42 Peg 61 mile mark
1 Jun 42 designation changed to 3 Coy AASC Northern Territory Force OC Capt K.W. Haigh. Examples of tasking, supporting 2/4 Bn, 2/8 Bn, 23/21 Bn with troop lifts and resupply. The unit was renamed 2/3 Australia Company AASC Northern Territory Force on 1 Aug 42. 1 Jun 43 2/3 Aust. Coy boarded HMAT DUNTROON at Darwin for Brisbane. Arriving Brisbane 8 Jun 43 Coy was sited at L&T Exhibition Grounds. All Coy members granted 21 days leave from 8 Jun 43. Advance party established camp GR 326076 Herberton 1':1 mile. 13 Aug 43 move to GR 400178 under command 2 Aust Corps Tpt Column, OC Maj Hutton 20 Dec 43.
On 19 Jun 44 2/3 Aust. Coy AASC was disbanded and reformed to HQ 2/3 Australian General Transport Company under command of Maj T.K. Shadworth. ( 2/3 Aust GT Coy) All members and equipment transferred to new Coy.
1 Aug 44 redeployed to Wondecla GR 327075 Herberton 1":1 mile. 15
Oct 44 Advance Party on the USAT Nancy Hanks to New Guinea. 28 Oct 44
main body to Redlynch (near Cairns), 3 Nov 44 embarked HMAT Duntroon,
8 Nov 44 arrive Aitape. The Coy deployed to the following locations;
a. AITAPE EAST 8 Nov 44, Map Ref GR 956507
Tasking : Resupply of combat
supplies to;
DID Drinkwater DID Svain
DID Yakimul DID Lazy Ck.
DID Babiang
DID Danmap River.
b. DOVE BAY April 45, Tasked
to support 2/6 Aust
Cav Commando landing
c. BUT 1 May 45, Map reference BUT l":l mile 889255
d. WOM Peninsula 22 May 45, Map reference
Wom Peninsula 1":1 mile 277119; and
e. Wewak East 1 August 45, Map reference
1":1 mile 278120
The 2/3 General Transport Company was disbanded at Wewak East on the 27 October 45, with the " Thirty Niners" being demobbed first. Members were given the option to nominate for the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces Japan.
POST WORLD WAR 2
In June 1948 the company was reformed as 3 Company RAASC Infantry Division Transport and in the following nine years of service was moved to various depots such as Leightonfield and Haberfield before being disbanded again in early 1960.
Following the reorganisation of the Army into the Pentropic Division, 19 Company RAASC, located at Ashfield Training Depot was renamed 3 Company RAASC. As a result of this reorganisation 3 Company RAASC together with 2 Company RAASC, another CMF unit located in Brisbane, and one ARA unit, 1 Company RAASC located at Ingleburn formed the basis of the Divisional Transport under command of HQ 1 Division Column RAASC commanded by LTCOL B.J. McNevin.
During 1961 and 1965 whilst under command of 1 Division Transport Column, the unit together with it's sister Company's gave support to both CMF and ARA exercises held during this period.
In 1966 again because of a reorganisation of the Army,3 Company RAASC was placed under of command of 5 Task Force (TF) 2nd Division, as were all CMF units within Eastern Command (now known as the 2nd Military District).
On 1 Jun 1973, the Royal Australian Army Service Corps was reorganised and renamed the Royal Australian Corp of Transport. As part of the change 3 Company RAASC became known as 3rd Transport Company RACT. It was also in that year that the unit was relocated to the Army complex at Marrickville after the Ashfield depot was surrendered back to the State Government.
In October 1975, again because of political pressure the Marrickville Depot was returned by the Federal Government to the Marrickville Council to be used as park land. The unit was again forced to move this time to Lidcombe where it shared accommodation with 142 Signal Squadron.
In 1977 the unit moved again this time 7 Platoon stayed at Lidcombe, 6 Platoon moved to Frenchmans Rd Randwick with 177 Air Dispatch, HQ's moved to Dora St Hurstville the OC Maj FARQUAR. Around 1980 all the Company reformed at Hurstville OC Maj Taylor.
In July 1976 again due to a reorganisation within the Army the unit was integrated with the ARA and placed under command of 9 Transport Column which at the time also commanded both 18 and 26 Transport Companies (ARA).
In February 1978, the company was involved in a reorganisation program which saw the Divisional Transport Column's renamed the Divisional Transport Regiment. The company was at this time renamed, 3rd Transport Squadron.
In May 1982, The unit was moved to Davies Rd Padstow. Finally on 1 February 1984, The unit was placed under command of the 2nd Division, returning to it's primary role as a second line transport unit.
On 1 July 1996 3 Transport Squadron began its role as the Transport Company for the 5th Brigade Administrative Support Battalion (5 BASB). Initially this role was conducted at Padstow but then on 22 June 1997 the doors closed at Padstow and the Squadron moved in convoy to Hill Street Banksmeadow. Within the BASB 3 Transport Squadron is generally referred to as Transport Company, although in the Pams on the formation of a BASB the transport element is designated as a Squadron.
In Dec 2000 the CO of 5 BASB, Col Michael Miller designated the birthday
of 5 BASB to be 17 September in place of 1 July. 17 September being the
date when 3 Transport Company and 5 Field Ambulance (Med Coy 5 BASB) first
served together providing administrative support to the Second Brigade
of the First Division near Amiens, France.
In January 2001 the Transport Company moved home again to Holsworthy, again sharing a home with 142 Signals as they did in the late Seventies. There they form the Transport arm of a CSST.
At the end of 2002 their final move was to their own premises near Green Hills corner at Holsworthy