London's Transport and the Home Front in WWI

On 18th April 1917, it was resolved to form a safety committee in order to extend to works and factories throughout the country, the principles and practices which were saving so many limbs and lives in London's transport services. Funds were made available and many experts from the organisation's departments lent their expertise and advice.

The establishment of volunteer training corps was a key feature of life on the Home Front in WWI. They offered those unable to enlist due to age, health, or job, a way of preparing for fighting should these restrictions be lifted. In addition they provided an able force to undertake duties on the Home Front.

Munitions manufacture using the facilities of the railway companies was co-ordinated by the Government's Railway War Manufacture Sub-Committee. Between them the various railway companies throughout Britain supplied 25,195 ambulance stretchers, 4,300 general service wagons, 400 water-tank carts, and 500 converted vans. Further work included valves, fitters, wheels and barrows.

At the same time ammunition was produced. The Metropolitan produced 2,496 shell base plates and 87,289 adapters just for the Ministry of Munitions. The Metropolitan District produced 49,500 adapters and powder cases for the War Office and 2,199 shells for the Munitions Committee. And these numbers don't represent the total output.

The coach factories at Holloway supplied the bodies of 6,175 3-ton lorries, 250 2-ton lorries, 178 stores wagons, and 401 complete mobile workshops, along with innumerable spares. Meanwhile the Associated Equipment Company at Walthamstow provided the chassis for over 10,000 vehicles.

The organisation's training school system was at the time touted as one of the largest and most complete in the world, and it was placed unreservedly at the disposal of the Army, who made full use of it. From the 2 schools, at Milman Street and at the Hounslow garage, 29,000 men were passed out to join the Mechanical Transport services as fully efficient drivers, 21,000 of them directly into the Royal Army Service Corps.

7 large garages were commandeered in addition to various buildings and properties, including the Earl’s Court Exhibition Grounds, where many Belgian refugees were housed, and on one occasion early in the war an important workshop at Holloway was taken over for the billeting of troops.

Throughout the war, the bus, train and tram traffic carried on as usual. Passenger numbers increased, but they were carried to their destinations. Workshops turned out shells and lorries, but trains ran, and buses were on the roads. The public were provided with essential means of transit while at the same time support was given in men and material to the armies in the field.