Editing Royal Logistic Corps

{{Short description|Logistic arm of the British Army}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Royal Logistic Corps
| image                         = Cap Badge of the RLC.png
| image_size                    = 150px
| caption                       = Insignia and cap badge of the Royal Logistic Corps
| dates                         = 5 April 1993 – present
| country                       = {{flagicon|UK}} [[United Kingdom]]
| allegiance                    = 
| branch                        = [[File:flag of the British Army.svg|23px]] [[British Army]]
| type                          = 
| role                          = [[Military logistics]]
| size                          = 
| command_structure             = 
| garrison                      = [[Worthy Down Camp]], [[Winchester]]
| garrison_label                = 
| nickname                      = 
| patron                        = 
| motto                         = "We Sustain"
| colors                        = 
| colors_label                  = 
| march                         = ''On Parade''<br />''Lion, Sword and Crown''
| mascot                        = 
| equipment                     = 
| equipment_label               = 
| battles                       = 
| anniversaries                 = 
| decorations                   = 
| battle_honours                = <!-- Commanders -->
| ceremonial_chief              = 
| ceremonial_chief_label        = 
| commander1                    = [[Anne, Princess Royal]]
| commander1_label              = Colonel-in-Chief
| commander2                    = Colonel Jacqueline Powell ADC
| commander2_label              = Corps Colonel
| commander3                    = Major General Jo Chestnutt CBE
| commander3_label              = Master General of Logistics
| notable_commanders            = <!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol         = [[File:RLC TRF.svg|100px]]
| identification_symbol_label   = [[Tactical recognition flash]]
| identification_symbol_2       = 
| identification_symbol_2_label = <!-- Aircraft -->
| aircraft_recon                = 
| aircraft_trainer              = 
| website                       = 
}}
The '''Royal Logistic Corps''' provides [[Military logistics|logistic support]] functions to the [[British Army]]. It is the largest [[Corps]] in the Army.<ref name=fn>{{cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/services/army/everything-you-need-know-about-rlc|title=Everything You Need To Know About The RLC|date=13 November 2019|publisher=Forces Network|access-date=19 February 2020}}</ref>

==History==
{{British Army Arms}}
The Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) was formed on 5 April 1993, by the union of five British Army corps:<ref>{{cite web|title=The Royal Logistic Corps and Forming Corps|url=http://www.rlcmuseum.co.uk/docs/history.html|publisher=The Royal Logistic Corps Museum|access-date=13 May 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814155505/http://rlcmuseum.co.uk/docs/history.html|archive-date=14 August 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

* [[Royal Engineers]] Postal and Courier Service
* [[Royal Corps of Transport]]
* [[Royal Army Ordnance Corps]]
* [[Royal Pioneer Corps]]
* [[Army Catering Corps]]

The RLC comprises both Regular and [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|Army Reserve]] units.<ref>{{cite web|title=RLC Regiments |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/logistic/23472.aspx|publisher=British Army website (UK Ministry of Defence)|access-date=13 May 2013}}</ref>

The RLC is the only combat service support corps of the British Army with [[battle honours]], derived from the usage of previous transport elements of [[the Royal Waggon Train]], and their successors as cavalry. The battle honours are:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.54sqnrct.co.uk/waggoners.html|title=Waggoners|publisher=54 Engineer Support and Ambulance Squadron|access-date=5 May 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042739/http://www.54sqnrct.co.uk/waggoners.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

* [[Peninsular War|Peninsula]]
* [[Battle of Waterloo]]
* [[Siege of Lucknow|Lucknow]]
* [[Taku Forts]]
* [[Beijing|Peking]]

==Cap badge==
The RLC [[cap badge]] is an amalgamation of the cap badges of the forming corps:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalpioneercorps.co.uk/rpc/history_main4.htm|title=History and background of the Royal Pioneer Corps 4|access-date=5 May 2014}}</ref>

* The laurel and garter band is from the [[Royal Engineers]]
* The Indian star is from the [[Royal Corps of Transport]]
* The shield in the centre is from the [[Royal Army Ordnance Corps]]
* The crossed axes are from the [[Royal Pioneer Corps]]
* The [[motto]], "We Sustain", is from the [[Army Catering Corps]]

The inscription on the garter band ''"[[Honi soit qui mal y pense]]"'' can be translated as "Shame on anyone who thinks evil of it".<ref name=fn/> It is the [[motto]] of the  [[Order of the Garter]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/about-st-georges/history/the-order-of-the-garter.html |title=College of St George – Windsor Castle – The Order of the Garter |publisher=College of St George – Windsor Castle |access-date=4 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715135657/https://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/about-st-georges/history/the-order-of-the-garter.html |archive-date=15 July 2017  }}</ref>

==Headquarters==
The Corps Headquarters is at [[Worthy Down Camp]] near Winchester. It is headed by a Colonel (Colonel RLC) as the professional head of the Corps. Col RLC is responsible for the Moral Component, regimental infrastructure and support and works to Commander Home Command.  Col RLC remains responsible for the [[Corps of Drums]], which often parades with the RLC Band.
(AG).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.veterans-uk.info/charity_hub/regimental_association.html|title=The Royal Logistic Corps Regimental Association|access-date=5 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506023128/http://www.veterans-uk.info/charity_hub/regimental_association.html|archive-date=6 May 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The RLC Band was formed in 1993. It provides musical support while also representing the Royal Logistic Corps, and on occasion, the wider British Army. They are able to produce no more than 12 working ensembles at a time. These include a marching band, big band, fanfare team, and acoustic groups.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://esplanade.ca/theatres/theatres-archived/2018/08/9190/|title=The Band of the Royal Logistic Corps &#124; The Esplanade|website=esplanade.ca}}</ref>

===Museum===
The [[Royal Logistic Corps Museum]] was based at [[Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut]] near [[Camberley]] in [[Surrey]], but was closed prior to a move to Worthy Down near Winchester, where it re-opened in May 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.royallogisticcorps.co.uk/heritage/museum/ |title= Welcome |publisher= Royal Logistic Corps Museum|access-date=8 June 2018}}</ref>

==List of units==
===Regiments===
{|
|'''Regular regiments'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/royal-logistic-corps/rlc-regular-units/|title=Regular RLC Units|accessdate=2 February 2021}}</ref>

*[[1 Regiment RLC]]
*[[4 Regiment RLC]]
*[[6 Regiment RLC]]
*[[7 Regiment RLC]]
*[[9 Regiment RLC]]
*[[10 Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment RLC]]
*[[11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search Regiment RLC]]
*[[13 Air Assault Support Regiment RLC]]
*[[17 Port and Maritime Regiment RLC]]
*[[25 Training Regiment RLC]]
*[[27 Regiment RLC]]
*[[29 Regiment RLC]]
*[[Gurkha Allied Rapid Reaction Corps Support Battalion|Gurkha ARRC Support Battalion]]  – (QOGLR personnel)
|width=20|
|valign=top|'''Reserve regiments'''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/royal-logistic-corps/rlc-reserve-units/|title=Reserve RLC Units|accessdate=2 February 2021}}</ref>

*[[150 Regiment RLC|150 (Yorkshire) Regiment RLC]]
*[[151 Regiment RLC|151 (Greater London) Regiment RLC]]
*[[152 (North Irish) Regiment RLC]]
*[[154 (Scottish) Regiment RLC]]
*[[156 Regiment RLC|156 (North West) Regiment RLC]]
*[[157 (Welsh) Regiment RLC]]
*[[158 Regiment RLC|158 (Royal Anglian) Regiment RLC]]
*[[159 Regiment RLC]]
*[[162 Regiment RLC]]
*[[165 Port and Maritime Regiment RLC]]
*[[167 Regiment RLC|167 Catering Support Regiment RLC]]
|}

===Specialist sub-units===
*Commando Logistic Support Squadron RLC – part of the [[Commando Logistic Regiment]]
**383 Commando Petroleum Troop RLC
*20 Transport Squadron RLC – part of [[London District (British Army)|London District]]
*44 Support Squadron RLC – part of [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]]
*96 (Duke of Gloucester) Squadron RLC - part of [[Army Training Centre Pirbright|1st Army Training Regiment Pirbright]]<ref name="ATC">{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/support-and-training/our-schools-and-colleges/atc-pirbright/|title=Army Training Centre Pirbright|accessdate=23 March 2025}}</ref>
*105 Logistic Support Squadron – part of [[British Army Training Unit Suffield]]
*108 (The Princess Royal) Squadron RLC - part of [[Army Training Centre Pirbright|2nd Army Training Regiment Pirbright]]<ref name="ATC"/>
*132 Aviation Support Squadron RLC – part of 7 Aviation Close Support Battalion REME
*821 EOD & Search Squadron RLC – part of [[33 Engineer Regiment (EOD)]]
*[[Joint Helicopter Support Squadron]] – part of [[Joint Aviation Command]]
*2 Operational Support Group

==Master General of Logistics==
There is also a ceremonial head (instituted in 2009), who heads the Corps and its wider family such as the Associations and Cadets, known as the '''Master General of Logistics''' (MGL). Holders of the post include:

*General Sir [[Kevin O'Donoghue]] (2009–2012)<ref name="LG 14 July 2009">{{London Gazette |issue=59126 |date=14 July 2009 |page=12040 |supp=y }}</ref>
*Lieutenant General Sir [[Mark Poffley]] (2012–2021)<ref name="LG 6 June 2012">{{London Gazette |issue=60163 |date=6 June 2012 |page=10780 |supp=y }}</ref>
*Major General Simon T. Hutchings (2021–2024)<ref name="Hutchings">{{London Gazette|issue=63576|date=4 January 2021|page=23985|supp=y}}</ref>
*Major General Jonathan E. A. Chestnutt (2024–present)<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=64418|date=11 June 2024|page=11221|supp=y}}</ref>

==Publications==
''The Sustainer'' is the magazine of the RLC Association. ''The Waggoner'' remains the Journal of the RASC/RCT Association. ''The RAOC Gazette'' that of the RAOC Association and ''The Pioneer'' of the RPC Association. ''The Review'' is an annual magazine of essays published by the Corps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royallogisticcorps.co.uk/association/|title=Association|publisher=Royal Logistic Corps Association|access-date=2 October 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Royal Corps Transport Vessel, Arezzo.jpg|right|thumb|Royal Logistic Corps landing craft, the [[Ramped Craft Logistic|RCL]] ''Arezzo'']]

==Victoria Cross==
The RLC has five Victoria Cross holders. All five derive historically from establishments that eventually became the [[Royal Corps of Transport]].
*Private [[Samuel Morley (VC)|Samuel Morley]]. Military Train. 15 April 1858.
*Private (Farrier) [[Michael Murphy (VC)|Michael Murphy]]. Military Train. 15 April 1858 (later forfeited).
*Assistant Commissary [[James Langley Dalton]]. Commissariat & Transport Department. 22 January 1879.
*Second Lieutenant [[Alfred Cecil Herring]]. Army Service Corps. 23 March 1918.
*Private [[Richard George Masters]]. Army Service Corps. 9 April 1918.

==Order of precedence==
{{S-start}}
{{order of precedence |
  before= [[Royal Army Chaplains' Department]]|
  title=  [[British Army Order of Precedence|Order of Precedence]]|
  after= [[Royal Army Medical Service]]
}}
{{S-end}}

==See also==
{{Portal|United Kingdom}}
* [[Royal Logistic Corps Museum]]
* [[Royal Army Service Corps]]
* [[Options for Change]]
* [[Loss of Strength Gradient]]
* [[British logistics in the Boer War]]
* [[British logistics in the Falklands War]]
* [[Hong Kong Logistic Support Regiment RLC]]
* [[List of roles in the British Army]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BD6jDau_JmUC&q=kings+division|last=Heyman|first= Charles|title= The British Army: A Pocket Guide, 2012–2013|publisher=Pen & Sword|year=2012|isbn=9781848841079}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Royal Logistic Corps}}
* [https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/royal-logistic-corps/ The Royal Logistic Corps]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061218200955/http://www.remuseum.org.uk/rem_his_special.htm Royal Engineers Museum: Royal Engineers Transportation and Postal and Courier Services] (archived 18 December 2006)

{{Royal Logistic Corps}}
{{The British Army}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Royal Logistic Corps| ]]
[[Category:British administrative corps]]
[[Category:Military logistics of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1993]]
[[Category:1993 establishments in the United Kingdom]]