Director of Steam Road Transport - Col. J.L.B. Templer

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In October 1899 the War Office decided to make use of steam transport in a supporting role to animal transport and a new organisation was created with Col. J.L.B. Templer (at the time Superintendent of the Balloon Factory at Aldershot) as Director of Steam Road Transport. 

 

On 1 November 1899 a new Royal Engineers company, the 45th Coy, was authorised specifically to operate steam road transport in South Africa.

 

On 15/16 November 1911 engines, supplies and members of Steam Road Transport sailed forSouth Africa, followed on 5 December by Col Templer, his deputy Capt. Gardiner, Mr H.L. Templer (relative??), 11 artificers and 9 more traction engines.

 

The ship, SS Denton Grange ran aground at Las Palmas and the men and cargo only reached South Africa late in January 1912.

 

Henry Lethbridge Templer was born in Armagh, Ireland in 1871 and served a mechanical engineering apprenticeship in London.

 

Who’s Who (South Africa) entries between 1908 and 1913 stated:
“Came to C.C. 1900 as Chief Engnr. of H.M. Steam Road Transport and was in charge of traction engines during the Boer War”.

 

This is in line with his MID in the LG of 16 April 1901 
“Chief Engineer H L Templar, for work with traction engines”. Roberts commented in the same despatch “…. where coal and water were readily obtainable, the engines proved a valuable adjunct to animal draught….” and a prophetic wish “...if an efficient oil motor could be substituted for the steam motor, as in that case no water would be wanted, while the coal would be replaced by a more portable and concentrated description of fuel.”

COLONEL TEMPLER AND HIS STEAM SAPPER
In September 1915 Templer joined the Army Service Corps in the UK as a Captain, with promotion to Major in February 1916.

 

After serving as O/C of the MT (Motor Transport) Depot, Camberwell, he was O/C Base MT Depot in East Africa (March 1916-Aug 1917) and was MiD in the LG, 18 February 1917 p 1353. 

On 16 Nov 1917 he was transferred to the RAF and employed on aircraft production, leading to his appointment as Assistant Controller, National Aircraft Factories with rank Act Lt Col on 8 October 1918.

 

According to his SA Record of Service form he was back in Johannesburg in November 1919 with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

 

During his war-time service Henry Templer was actively involved at top level with two new means of transportation in warfare:

 

Mechanical Traction (1900) and Aircraft (1918). One wonders what would have been his thoughts on the equipment used in the Namibian/Angolan Bush War in the 1980’s!