Commissariat facts for kids

A commissariat is a special department or office. It is usually led by a person called a commissary.

Sometimes, a commissary is a police officer. In these places, a commissariat is like a police station. It's where police work is managed.

In armies, commissaries are officers who handle supplies. So, a commissariat in the army is the group that makes sure soldiers get their food and other important items. This includes things like food for horses too. They usually do not handle weapons or ammunition. In most armies, the same group handles both transport and supplies.

British Army Commissariat

Early History (17th & 18th Century)

In 1685, King James II gathered an army. He chose John Shales to be the Commissary General. Shales was in charge of finding, storing, and giving out food for the soldiers. He also had to get food for the horses.

Shales also managed people who sold goods to the army (called sutlers). He had to find wagons and horses for transport. After 1694, this top job was often given out only for specific wars or places. Otherwise, each army group (regiment) handled its own supplies.

Later, in 1793, during a war with France, a Commissary-General was again appointed for Britain. This started a more lasting Commissariat department. But it only managed supplies within Britain. Armies fighting overseas still handled their own supplies.

Changes in the 19th Century

In 1809, things changed. A Commissary-in-chief was put in charge of all Commissariat services, both at home and abroad. The Commissariat was part of the government's Treasury department. Its staff were civilians, but they followed army rules.

This department supplied food, fuel, and horse feed for all troops. They also provided some other equipment. They did not handle weapons or ammunition. Those were managed by a different group. Commissariat officers had ranks, from Commissary-General (like a Brigadier-General) down to Deputy Assistant Commissary-General (like a Lieutenant).

After the Napoleonic Wars, the top Commissary job was removed. The department focused more on money. It acted like a bank for government services in the colonies. This meant money could be moved between Britain and its colonies easily. The Commissariat still helped supply the army abroad, but it was not their main job.

During the Crimean War, the Commissariat struggled to supply the army. Because of this, in 1854, the army's supply duties were moved to the War Office. The Commissariat remained a civilian service until 1869. Then, its officers became regular army officers in a new department. Over time, the British Army's supply group changed names several times. It finally became the Army Service Corps in 1888.

Penal Colonies in Australia

In the early New South Wales and Van Dieman's Land (now Tasmania) colonies, the Commissariat Department had a big job. These were "penal colonies," where convicts were sent. The Commissariat was responsible for providing for the convicts. They also supplied goods to storekeepers and looked after the needs of soldiers and navy ships.

This started in 1788, when the colony was new and could not grow enough food. The colony's governors were military men. So, commissary officers managed all the supplies. After 1855, the Commissariat only supplied military forces, a few remaining convicts, and people with mental health issues. It was closed in New South Wales in 1870 when the last British soldiers left. Similar systems were used in other Australian colonies.

Russian Army Commissariat

Military commissariats in the Soviet Army and today's Russian Army are local military offices. They help prepare for military mobilization. They keep records of soldiers and resources available for the army. They also help train young men for military service. These offices draft men into the army and organize training for reserve soldiers. They perform other military tasks at a local level.

Religious Use of Commissariat

Among Roman Catholic religious orders, a Commissariat is a part of the Order that is somewhat independent. It is smaller than a full "Province" (a larger division). A Commissariat might be created if it has the potential to grow into a full Province. Or it might serve a group within the Order that needs to be separate, for example, because they speak a different language. Just like in the army, the leader of this religious division is called the Commissary.

This term is often used by Franciscan Orders and also by Indian Zoroastrians.

See also

• Commissaire de police
• Commissariat de l'armée de terre