[Tony Wheeler]

Thanks for the explanation Mike. I'm always in the dark concerning late '42 unit serials, as the relevant instructions found in Taubert's work appear to be incomplete. Specifically, those relating to the new numbering system introduced in March '42:

SM 5849 of 30 March '42 instructs that: "AMF and AIF in Australia will adopt a new series of Unit serial numbers......Appendix "C" to SM 3457 will be destroyed and Appendix "A" to this instruction will be substituted." However, when I look at Appendix "A", which is indeed titled "Standard Unit Numbers for Inf. Divs.", I find it lists no numbers whatsoever, only background colours. Do you happen to have the applicable numbers Mike?

I agree with you concerning Graham McK Smith's work. I bought Volume 2 some time ago while researching my NT Force FGT8 provenance, and found it extremely comprehensive and immediately intelligible, even to my untrained mind. I particularly like the monthly location lists, which enable you to see at a glance exactly when each unit arrived and departed NT Force, as well as their precise movements within NT Force. As such it's an extremely useful ready reference, with further detail concerning movements and activities provided in the text. However it's more than just a research reference - I find it provides an excellent overall appreciation of WWII in the Northern Territory, by virtue of well structured chapters summarizing each stage of deployment, and explaining the policy and objectives behind them, all aimed at resisting the expected Japanese invasion. I'd very much like to read something similar on the Eastern States, but as you say Mike it appears he never completed the series. Which is perhaps not surprising, given his mention of 14 years researching Volume 2 alone! I can well believe that, given the breadth and detail found within. If anyone reading this thread is interested I have a spare copy available.