GMH chevy ute

[Mike K]

This appears to be a GMH assembled chevy ute in the Nth Arfican desert . I spotted the rectangular side vent and the opening W/screen and the quarter windows in the doors , all this says its a GMH built cab . It was probably left behind in the desert somewhere ?

http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P03369.002/

Another interesting pic

http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P04632.001/

[lynx42]

Hi Mike,

A check of the AWM126's for the registration number AIF V18220 should give a bit of history as to the fate of this 6th. Division vehicle.
Good find.

Regards Rick.

[Mike Cecil]

I think you meant to say 9th Aust Infantry Division, Rick, especially as the image was taken circa Nov 1942 - 6 Div were well home by then - and the combined unit/formation sign configuration is post-Jan 1942.

It's a 1 ton Chev. Left Australia in June 1941, and, as there is no disposal information recorded, was probably left in either North Africa or Ceylon.

Interesting cable 'eye' device on the front - similar in concept to the that fitted later to White M3A1 AOP vehicles.

Mike

[lynx42]

Your are right Mike C. Don't know why I had a memory block there. I knew that the 6th is the Kangaroo. What is the tac sign below the 9th div. sign?

No sign of a cable winch like the Scout car has, but it might be hidden under all that gear.

Regards Rick.

[Mike Cecil]

88 was a pretty common unit sign at that stage, so the formation sign is the key.

In 9 Inf Div, the '88' was assigned to 2/7th Aust Field Regt, which matches the AWM's image caption. The Arm of Service background colours clearly have white as the upper colour, so have to be white over blue, ie, a signals unit. For the number '88' to show up against the white background, it has to be in red.

So, this shows it is the signals section attached to 2/7th Aust Field Regiment. At that stage of the war, signals sub-units attached to other arms of service units used the unit sign number of the unit to which they were attached (in this case, 2/7 Aust Fd Regt) over the signals' arm of service colours (white over blue) with the unit sign number in red. Clear as mud, eh?

Mike

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

I think you meant to say 9th Aust Infantry Division, Rick, especially as the image was taken circa Nov 1942 - 6 Div were well home by then - and the combined unit/formation sign configuration is post-Jan 1942.

It's a 1 ton Chev. Left Australia in June 1941, and, as there is no disposal information recorded, was probably left in either North Africa or Ceylon.

Interesting cable 'eye' device on the front - similar in concept to the that fitted later to White M3A1 AOP vehicles.

Mike

I looked at buying one of these , it was up near Glenrowan, the guy ran a caravan park at Lake Mokoan . Anyway, the vehicle was in pieces , the chassis was in good shape , he had the motor and a few other bits . I actually paid a deposit but I never went back to pick up the bits ! You could clearly see the military paint on the bits he had .

The 1 tonners had the short running board , it ended just at the cab . The similar looking 15 cwt version, had the running board right up to the rear guards . BTW the wheels on these 1 tonners are 17 " . Reminds me I did buy another one . While staying at Cargo in NSW , 1981 ? I bought a complete ex army 1 tonner for $50 , in Orange. On the cowl it had "Vans 1 ton GS " and the dulux military paint codes were on the GMH tag ! The rear body had been replaced with a tray . I flat towed it to Cargo behind my 1946 dodge ute , with my brother in law steering the chevy ... the brakes still worked fine on the chev ! I never got around to picking it up, the locals vandelised it , pinching the axles and it ended up a mess .

[Lang]

Mike

I had one of those and took it on the Brisbane to Townsville VP50 run in 95.

It was a delightful truck to drive with 4 speed floor shift and the usual Chevrolet superior steering. It had no trouble keeping up with modern traffic. You might note mine has the full length step which was original when I got it in pretty good order.

Lang

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Lang

Mike

and the usual Chevrolet superior steering.

Lang

That will raise a few hackles Having owned both marques I can vouch for the crap Ford steering box . I christened my 41 Ford 11D "the road wanderer".

The ute pictured looks like a 15cwt model. The army asked for 7.50 - 16 tyres on these , the rims being wider that the normal civvy type. Tojo landcruiser rims bolt on as well .

[Lang]

Yes Mike, it was a 15cwt version and had 7.50-16 tyres. There are quite a few photos of these in the Middle East and elsewhere. I seem to recall it had the torque tube tail shaft, if my memory is correct the 30cwt had a conventional tail shaft arrangement.

Lang