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1st - 27th Depot Units of Supply - Gallipoli, Middle East and Western Front

There were 25 Depot Units of Supply eventually raised and deployed on the Western Front, numbered 1st to 25th, about five for each Division.   Another two, the 26th and 27th were raised and served in Palestine supporting the Light Horse.

When the AIF was raised in late 1914, an original grouping of 2 Depot Units of Supply departed eventually to join the 1st Divison on Gallipoli.  Two more departed in July and December 1915 with the 7th following in early 1916.  After that they were raised in Egypt as the 'Doubling of the AIF was taking place, for service on the Western Front. A notable exception was the 11th to 15th which were raised coincident with the 3rd Division, in Australia.  They went straight to the UK and then to the Western Front.

Depots of Supply were '3rd Line' logistics supply units that handled the supplies, less ammunition, for about 4,000 men.  Their task was to receive, account for, store and distribute combat and general supplies forward to the Corps and Division Administrative and Maintenance Areas, from where the Division Trains and Supply Columns would take over.

Ammunition was handled through a separate supply chain by the Ammunition Columns, controlled by Corps and Division Artillery.  See the example 1st Division Ammunition Column  (/explore/units/356)

Motor transport light rail and horse-drawn transport all played a part in distribution.  2nd Line forward tended to be horse drawn transport.

• 1st Depot Unit of Supply Raised in Australia September 1914. Embarked HMAT Berima from Sydney 19 December 1914. Deployed Egypt ,Gallipoli, Western Front.  War diary link
• 2nd Depot Unit of Supply Raised in Australia, September 1914. Embarked Melbourne on the HMAT Berima 22 December 1914.  It served in Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front. War diary link
• 3rd Depot Unit of Supply Raised in Australia in July 1915. Embarked from Sydney on the HMAT Mooltan 11 December 1915.  Served in Egypt, Western Front. War diary link
• 4th Depot Unit of Supply Rasied in Australia July 1915. Embarked from Sydney with 3rd Depot Unit.  Egypt, Western Front. War diary link here.
• 5th Depot Unit of Supply Raised in Australia July 1915. Embarked from Melbourne on the HMAT Ceramic 23 December 1915.  Its served in Egypt, Western Front.  War diary link here.
• 6th Depot Unit of Supply Raised in Australia July 1915. Embarked with the 5th.  Served in Egypt, Western Front.  War diary link here
• 7th Depot Unit of Supply. Raised in Australia July 1915. Embarked from Adelaide on the HMAT Borda 11 January 1916.  Served in Egypt & Western Front.  War DIary link here.
• 8th Depot Unit of Supply. Raised in Egypt March 1916, serving there and on the Western Front. War diary link here. 
• 9th Depot Unit of Supply. Raised in Egypt March 1916 serving there and on the Western Front. War diary link here. 
• 10th Depot Unit of Supply. Raised in Egypt March 1916 serving there and on the Western Front. War diary link here.
• 11th Depot Unit of Supply Raised at Enoggera, Queensland, April 1916. Embarked Sydney on the HMAT Demosthenes 18 May 1916.  Served on the Western Front.  War diary link here.
• 12th Depot Unit of Supply.  Raised at Enoggera, Queensland, April 1916. Embarked Sydney on the HMAT Demosthenes 18 May 1916. Served on the Western Front. War diary link here.
• 13th Depot Unit of Supply. Raised at Enoggera, Queensland, April 1916. Embarked Sydney on the HMAT Demosthenes 18 May 1916. Served on the Western Front. War diary link here.
• 14th Depot Unit of Supply Raised at Enoggera, Queensland, April 1916. Embarked Sydney on the HMAT Demosthenes 18 May 1916. Served on the Western Front. War diary link here.
• 15th Depot Unit of Supply. Raised at Enoggera, Queensland, April 1916. Embarked Sydney on the HMAT Demosthenes 18 May 1916. Served on the Western Front. War diary link here.
• 16th Depot Unit of Supply. Raised in Egypt March 1916 serving there and on the Western Front. War diary link here. 
• 17th Depot Unit of Supply. Raised in Egypt March 1916 serving there and on the Western Front. War diary link here.
• 18th Depot Unit of Supply. Raised in Egypt March 1916 serving there and on the Western Front. War diary link here.
• 19th Depot Unit of Supply. Raised in Egypt March 1916 serving there and on the Western Front. War diary link here.
• 20th Depot Unit of Supply. Raised in Egypt March 1916 serving there and on the Western Front. War diary link here.
• 21st Depot Unit of Supply. Raised in Egypt March 1916 serving there and on the Western Front. War diary link here.
• 22nd Depot Unit of Supply. Raised in Egypt March 1916 serving there and on the Western Front. War diary link here.
• 23rd Depot Unit of Supply. Raised in Egypt March 1916 serving there and on the Western Front. War diary link here.
• 24th Depot Unit of Supply. Raised in Egypt March 1916 serving there and on the Western Front. War diary link here.
• 25th Depot Unit of Supply. Raised in Egypt March 1916 serving there and on the Western Front. War diary link here.
• 26th Depot Unit of Supply. Raised in Egypt September 2 1916 to support the Light Horse serving in Egypt, Sinai and Palestine. Subsumed 1st and 2nd Supply SectionsWar diary link here
• 27th Depot Unit of Supply. Raised in Egypt September 2 1916 to support the Light Horse serving in Egypt, Sinai and Palestine. Subsuned 3rd and 4th Supply sections. War diary link here

References:

Bean, C.E.W., Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918. Volume III: The Australian Imperial Force in France 1916, Angus & Robertson, 1929

Lindsay, N, Equal to the Task, Vol I, Historia, 1992 pp 33-37

Mallet, R, AIF Order of Battle , AIF Project, https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/OrderOfBattle/index.html

Compiled by Steve Larkins Jun 19