THE GENERAL TRANSPORT COMPANIES
1944-1946

SHORT HISTORY

One of the main elements in the agreements between the Belgian Government and SHAEF
was the raising of a certain number of transport companies.

34 General Transport Companies were raised, and all were put at the disposal of the 21st Army Group.

The first companies received their training in Belgium, but the majority went to Great Britain for training.

North Sea, August 28, 1945. Return to Belgium of the 1020th General Transport Company, after the training period in Great Britain.

In December 1944, after the raising of the first transport companies,
 a Command of the Transport Group was created.

In February 1945 a Training Command of the Transport Group was also created.

5 Sub-TransportGroups were created, but those were only administrative units.

View on Doddington Camp, July 1945.

Doddington Camp July 1945. Morning parade of the 1010th Transport Company

Most of the companies received their training in the United Kingdom.

The School for NCO's was at Black Down, and the School for Officers at Aldershot.

The Basic Training Centre was installed at Bradford.

The Schools for Drivers were first installed at Carlisle and Heckfield,
but were merged and transferred to Doddington on April 15 1945.

The School for Mecanics was at South End.

Aldershot, June 1945, training of Belgian Transport officers.

Schoten, Belgium, November 1945. 1031th General Transport Compnay, blackboard with the daily maintenance tasks.
Leuze, Belgium, May 1945, officers of the 1012th General Transport Company. The major on the right is the commanding officer Major Bastin.

Only a few companies were on active duty in Occupied Germany.

Most of the companies stayed in Belgium.

August 1945. A section of the 1005th Gen Tpt Coy at Beningsen, Occupied Germany.

July 1945. Trucks of the 1005th Gen Tpt Coy on the road between Hannover and Hamburg.

The disbandment of the General Transport Companies started at the beginning of 1946
and was completed by the end of August 1946.

KNOWN FORMATION BADGES

Only 2 Transport Companies are known to have worn a own Formation Badge.

1005th General Transport Company
The first Formation Badge worn by the 1005th General Transport Company
was the Formation Badge of the 30th British Corps.
From June 26 1945 until  October 9 1945 the company was under the operational command
of the 30th Corps District Troops HQ RASC.
They were stationned at Wichtringhausen and Beningsen.
The 1005th General Transport Company was allowed to wear
the Formation Badge of the 30 Corps during this period.

Private of the 1005th General Transport Company wearing the Formation Badge of the 30th Corps.

A second Formation Badge was worn once the company returned under Belgian command.
It was a own creation.
A dark blue bison on a yellow shield with dark blue border.
Exists in left and right.

Formation Badge 1005th General Transport Company

1011th General Transport Company.
A blue bird, of unknown species, facing to the right, sitting on a simplified globe, in a yellow circle.
The yellow circle was placed on a red-green shield with black border and a white diagonal bar.

Formation Badge 1011th General Transport Company

Several companies wore the Formation Badge of the Lines  of Communications troops of the 21st Army Group.

A blue cross on a red shield.

Formation Badge of the L. of C. Troops of the 21st Army Group

OTHER BATTLE DRESS INSIGNIA.

Officers wore only  Belgian rank insignia.

NCO's wore as British as well as Belgian Rank Insignia.

Sergeant of a General Transport Company with the Formation Badge of the L.of C. Troops of the 21st Army Group, and the "Transport strip".

Sergeant Geldof of the 1010 General Transport Company. Note the Formation Badge of the L.of C. Troops of the 21st Army Group.

On both arms the "Transport strip" was worn : yellow - blue.

The Belgian national colours were worn on the right arm sleeve.

A white "BELGIUM" was worn on the left arm sleeve.

On the shoulder straps a wheel was worn,
mostly with the number of the company (01-34) beneath the wheel.

Metal insignia as well as embroidered insignia were worn.

Left : Insignia worn on shoulder straps by the General Transport Companies.        Right : variants.

Metal wheels worn on shoulder straps : men, NCO's, officers.