[Shane Lovell]

Dear colleagues

The photo is definitely taken in the Middle East during 1940. It is only one of a series of stills of taken during a training exercise. The Australian War Memorial also holds motion footage of this exercise.

Secondly, no Lt Mk II tanks ever arrived in Australia.

Thirdly, it is plausible that some vehicles returned to Australia from the Middle East in the 'caunter' scheme. You should note that the AIF returned from the Middle east in two main batches. 6 and 7 Aust Div in early 1942, and 9 Div in early 1943. Prior to this the Australian Corps had been in Palestine and Syria and came under the command of HQ Palestine and TransJordan. This area had its own vehicle camouflage scheme.

The Palestine and Transjordan scheme set out a two tone finish of Light Portland Stone and Standard Camouflage Colour Green No 7. This was promulgated during the Middle of 1941, however, at least for the AIF field and anti tank regiments this was not put into effect until late 1941. Thus the majority of the AIF vehicles should have been finished in this scheme during 1941 early 1942.

There were however, a small number of AIF units that remained in Egypt, ordnance depots, port detachments and workshops. Presumably these units would have progressively adopted the appropriate Western desert schemes as vehicles were repainted.

The next point relatres to the fact that not all vehicles on issue to the AIF returned to Australia. Certainly, no tanks returned. Unfortunately, the records are very patchy at best, however, key vehicles that returned included specialist B vehicles eg workshop lorries.

cheers

Shane