The Dodge's in the image at Ryde are almost certainly Aust-assembled: Aust LAA gallows mount, roof hatch, Aust cammo. Some are green overall while the others are camouflaged/disruptive pattern Light Stone/KG3 as per the end 1941/early 1942 Aust requirements.
Like Mike K, I can't say I have seen any records indicating, or images confirming, Dodge 3 tonners being operated in the Middle East by Aust forces. The only Dodges of any size were ones in RAAF service, and they were provided by the Brits. Can't say I have ever found any shipping records of Dodge trucks being brought to Australia from the Middle East during 1942 or 1943, either: the vehicles that dominate are CMP trucks, followed by orphans like the WOTs.
I expect the annotation 'and Australian Forces' on the SMs means the BPC allocated them to Aust in the usual break-up of allocations from each SM and they were shipped direct to Aust and assembled locally. Hence, they were not allocated WD numbers either.
Mike
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