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. 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Old War Office Building, Whitehall, London - the former location of the War Office The War Office was a former department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1963, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence. ...

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. 1794 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The position of Secretary of State for War, commonly called War Secretary, a British cabinet-level position, first applied to Henry Dundas (appointed in 1794). ... During the French Revolution (1789–1799) democracy and republicanism overthrew the absolute monarchy in France, and the French portion of the Roman Catholic Church was forced to undergo radical restructuring. ... The Battle of New Orleans 1815 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The position of Secretary of State for War, commonly called War Secretary, a British cabinet-level position, first applied to Henry Dundas (appointed in 1794). ... The Secretary at War was a position with some responsibility over the administration of the British military. ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Old War Office Building, Whitehall, London - the former location of the War Office The War Office was a former department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1963, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence. ... 1964 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Ministry of Defence building, Whitehall, Westminster, London The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and the headquarters of the UK military. ...

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. The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps The British Empire was one of the worlds first global powers, a product of the European Age of Exploration that began with the global maritime empires of Portugal and Spain in the...

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): World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrinations, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons like the atom bomb World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th-century conflict that engulfed much of the globe... British Railways (BR), later rebranded as British Rail, ran the British railway system, from the nationalisation of the Big Four British railway companies in 1948 until its privatisation in stages between 1994 and 1997. ...

• Hunslet Class 50550 0-6-0ST, BR numbers 68006-68080
• Class 8F 2-8-0, BR numbers 90000-90732
• Class 8F 2-10-0, BR numbers 90750-90774

For more details see the Steam locomotives of British Railways Preserved Austerity 0-6-0 The Hunslet Engine Company Class 50550 is a design of steam locomotive designed for shunting. ... The War Department (WD) Austerity 2-8-0 is a class of heavy freight steam locomotive that was introduced in 1943. ... The War Department (WD) Austerity 2-10-0 is a class of heavy freight steam locomotive that was introduced in 1943. ... ex-Great Western Railway No. ...

References

• Allied Military Locomotives of the Second World War, R. Tourret, Tourret Publishing, ISBN 0-905878-06-X.