Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas Greville
Ian
Have to disagree with you. It is a documented fact that Australian Army personnel landed on in Normandy either on or shortly after D-Day. I remember reading several first person accounts of it (many years ago) in an RSL club.
As to M8s, well, being that Australia appears not to have purchased any doesn't mean we never operated them in some sort of secondment posting. I know that officers are often posted individually on secondment, but in the case of enlisted personnel, would expect that if it happens it would be in groups, not individually? The story I was told was that it was a "Squadron".
Just as Australia is not listed as having been equipped with Chaffee, Sherman, Leo 2, FV-432, M-60: all those vehicles have been operated by Australian personnel in Australia, some vehicles remained here, others were returned at the end of the evaluation.
Strange things happen, a surprising amount never gets recorded in publically available material.
A few years ago I was talking to an RAN veteran and when I asked what ship he was on, he said "Shropshire" (IIRC). I then queried if he had been on secondment (he was a rating) and he said no, that the ship was given to Australia by the British government.
So, where as it is normal for a ship's name to be changed when it is transferred from one navy to another, in this case HMS Shropshire and HMAS Shropshire are one and the same ship.
Regards
Doug
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Doug,
as for the HMS (HMAS) Shropshire, the AWM & RAN as too the HMAS Shropshire websites are quite detailed ref the "gifting"of the Shropshire after the sinking of the HMAS Canberra. Even down to what was said by Churchill about it. As for it & Greyhounds, I am still not 100% with the connection.
Yes, you are correct in that we (Aust) trialled the M60, FV 432, CVRT, M114A1, Fiat 6614, Chenoweth FAV and Sheridan. The Challenger or Leo 2 were never trialled (even against the Abrahms) and it was the Leopard 1A2 (cast turret) that was trialled back in the 70's (against the M60). These vehicles are readily listed as trials vehicles but are not classified as "operated". Operated denotes that the vehicle has been accepted and is in general service.
As for trials vehicles, they are generally a loan type vehicle therefore the vehicles generally return to the country of origin (unless accepted for service) The Shermans, Chaffee, Crusader 1 & Cromwell would have stayed probably because of the War being on at the time. (I will try & find and answer on that).
As for the Australian involvement in the European Theatre of war, I did do some chasing. What I came up with from the AWM was the fact that there were almost 3000 Australian personnel involved in the D Day landings.
There were approx only 12 Army personnel attached to British units to gain experience for proposed future landings in the Pacific region.
Approx 500 RAN personnel in ships, Corvettes, MTBs etc.
Finally there were approx 2500 RAAF personnel attached to Bomber Command and Fighter Command. The RAAF contingent had been based in England since early in the war and continued until the end of hostilities.
Fourteen Australians were killed on D Day, two RAN & 12 RAAF.
My source at the AWM could find no records of any formed Army units in Europe after D Day.
I am still looking for anything ref M8s in Australian service (trials or other) but at the time of reply couldn't find anything.
We did have over 250 Staghounds though. Some of which saw overseas deployment with BCOF.