The
War Department was the
United Kingdom government department responsible for the supply of equipment to the armed forces of the United Kingdom and the pursuance of military activity. In 1857 it became the
War Office. Within the War Office the name 'War Department' remained in use to describe the military transport services of the
War Department Fleet and the
War Department Railways.
History
In 1794 the position of
Secretary of State for War was created. The Secretary's department was at first unofficially known as the
War Department. Colonial affairs were later added and it became the
Colony Department. After the outbreak of war with
revolutionary France it became
Colony and War Department and on the restoration of peace in 1815 the
Colonial Department. In February 1855 the offices of the
Secretary of State for War, and
Secretary at War were merged and the new department and became the War Department once again until in 1857 when it became the
War Office. In 1964 the department became the
Ministry of Defence.
War Department Railways
One aspect of the War Department's work was the supply of locomotives and rolling stock for use on railways in the United Kingdom, other parts of the
British Empire, and in theatres of conflict.
In
World War I the War Department ran the
War Department Light Railways which were a system of
narrow gauge Trench railways used for the supply of ammunition and stores, the transport of troops and the evacuation of the wounded.
In
World War II, large numbers of steam locomotives were produced, as well as some diesel locomotives, of varying gauges to suit the area of planned operation. After the end of the war, these locomotives were largely disposed of to various railways around the world, though some were retained for peacetime use on UK military railways. Of those that were sold, examples of three types ended up as part of the
British Railways fleet (where they were often referred to as 'Austerity' locos):
For more details see the
Steam locomotives of British Railways
