Dodge T203B in Australia

[Mike Kelly]

I found a naa file (over 300 pages long) relating to the disposal of Lend Lease vehicles in Australia.

One page mentions a single Dodge T203B 4x4 truck that was acquired in the Middle East.

https://www.o5m6.de/redarmy/dodge_t203b.php

Was this truck a ex-French contract truck, diverted to Britain, shipped to the M.E. , then acquired by Australian troops and shipped to Australia ? Seems that the Dodge was located at Ryde vehicle park in Sydney waiting disposal.

The army were unsure of the value or price , they decided on 550 Pounds . The Dodge was probably sold to the Chrysler Aust. dealer: Harden & Johnstone in Sydney. It may appear in the AWM 126 books somewhere.

Another odd one mentioned in the file is a 1 Ton GS with Marmon Herrington kit.

[Mike Kelly]

Found in the same file are numerous papers relating to the vehicles returned to the Commonwealth from the USAFIA , including two long lists of the USFIA vehicles , one compiled in Townsville and the other Brisbane - numbering over 500 vehicles. The file reveals that In 1944, there was a chronic shortage of essential services transport and some of the ex-U.S. staff cars were reconditioned and supplied to civilian medical doctors, i.e., GM-H dealerships purchased these cars through the Disposals Commission and rebuilt them, I found a few Pontiacs.

The list of Reverse Lend Lease vehicles includes: Nash, Hudson and Studebaker sedans and other odd ball cars like a Morris tourer and Ford Prefects. A few 1941 Pontiac , 'masonite utes' as well. The U.S. staff cars were mostly 1940 to 42 models, they even used some Plymouths which the Aust. Army didn't normally use that much.

I found a list of Reverse lend lease vehicles earmarked for disposal at: 5 AOVP W.A. This list includes engine nrs.