A Return to "Staging" By "Aldo" Taking a Trip With
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a Service Convoy an a 500-mile Journey DRIVERS of -goods vehicles are often impatient when they are endeavouring to overtake a line of Service vehicles on a narrow, winding _road. " Another blasted convoy! " they mutter, as they edge over the crown of the road and peer ahead to see if ,the way be clear. And their irritation is reasonable, for it can take a considerable time to pass a big convoy, under some road and traffic conditions. . They should not, however, blame the convoy drivers, who, for the most part, would rather be sitting at home.
The dwellers in peaceful villages may also object to . a stream of noisy, lumbering vehicles pouring along their secluded road.. " It's only recently they've come this way! " they corn" Why ever do they bring them through Little Stinking-on-the-Wolclit's' not a main road? "
Well, convoy routes are carefully selected for various reasons. Density of traffic •on alternative routes; special requirements at .different seasons; law bridges; gadients andsharp bends, and a host of other factors. So the Service authorities have no real intention of punishing the inhabitants of small towns by pushing big. convoys through the streets; it's just a matter of location in the Nation's -road
system.' , 36 3-tonnera in Convoy Let us see what it is like to travel in a Service convoy, on a 'journey of, perhaps, 500 miles. Maybe, some special equipment must be shifted hurriedly from one area to another. The R.A.S.C, will be called upon to provide transport for the weight and nature of the load specified. Perhaps 36 3-tooners are called for, and if heavy trailers be involved there will be big tractors to pull them.
The R.A.F. will use its own transport, -as will the Navy, the vehicles of which are by no means as rare on our roads as might be imagined.
A day may probably be needed to load up and get everything properly secured. An officer will be in charge, with one or more, sergeants under him. The drivers will have checked over their vehicles, .fuelled up and be ready to start. Haversack rations will have been issued for the day's journey; the main meal is eaten at night. The ,officer and leading driver will know the route well, and be able to find suitable stretches of road where a convoy of this size can safely halt without causing obstruction. A knowledge of such places is invaluable, as any civilian long-distance driver knows.
The start having been made, the long column moves off, with vehicles at strictly spaced intervals. Those at the front proceed at a steady pace, but, as the tail is reached, the drivers frequently have to move quits" rapidly,, to catch up, a fact which puzzles most
of them.
The longer the convoy the more difficult it is to ensure a steady speed for the rearmost machines. Traffic lights account for most of this trouble, coupled wi',711 the fear of the driver " left " at the lights thahe will lose the vehicle ahead of him, Despatch riders are generally present to sort things out, and they often have a busy time on a really long convoy. ` Short halts are made as seems necessary, 'and the lunch-time break is generally at least an hour, to give the drivers a rest. If possible, this main stbp is made within reach of a canteen, and while guards watch the vehicles, the drivers can stretch their legs and get a drink of tea.
Many drivers think that the day's run is too short, and that they could easily carry on for much longer. . If nothing goes wrong, then it may seem short, but wait until trouble does start, and then how welcome is that margin of time.
If a vehicle falls out, the last lorry, generally carrying the sergeant, stays with it to assist. A repair vehicle may be at the end of the procession, if the convoy be, large enough to warrant one.
In the afternoon or evening, the long line of vehicles enters the " Staging Camp," of which there are several up and down the country on convoy routes. These are generally excellently run and are of great use. They provide ample parking for vehicles, supplies of fuel and oil, 'sleeping accommodation, a good hot meal, baths and breakfasts.
The first job on entering is to report arrival, and then all vehicles are filled up with petrol and oil, ready for the morning. The drivers find the huts allotted to them, clean up, and have a meal. Then they are usually free to ) visit the town, unless some work lequires to be done on their vehicles. These staging-camp towns are as well known as their counterparts in coaching days. Some are liked, and others are regarded as " dumps." Similarly with the camps, the merits of which are discussed just as. eagerly as were the stage-coach inns of long ago.
The life on a convoy is similar to _ what it must have been like in coaching days. You drive so far, and then. you put up for the night, the enjoyment or otherwise of the journey depending greatly on the evening entertainment.
The sight of a big staging-camp's vehicle park is most interesting, as different convoys pull in, one after the other. The drivers look over each others' velutles, criticizing or admiring, if some interesting new types he on view. The " big stuff" is always a major attraction.
Drivers Swop Yarns Ananias would havesome uneasy times if he could hear some of the stories, swopped by the drivers, of events on past convoys. Most of the regular convoy drivers like the work, preferring its varied scenes and freedom of action to the more orderly routine of camp or barracks.
Much speculation is always offered on where they will go for return loads, as, naturally, vehicles returning empty are not encouraged. Sometimes a driver may fake a long time to return to his own unit, moving about the country taking loads as directed. For this, the convoy generally splits up, if it be a hie one, and forms smaller units to suit the loads offered.
So when those signs on the road are seen, reading, "Convoy .Route—Turn Left," etc., spare a thought for all the men in the big vehicles, who live on the roads and enjoy their nomadic way of life as a pleasant change from Service routine. When they all return to civilian life, they will have a wide and useful knowledge of the counties and of the roads of Britain.