British Carriers in Oz

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Andrew Morrison

When the Divisions returned from the Middle East they brought all their transport back with them.

Under the terms of supply which were agreed between the Australian and UK governments Australia had to pay the UK government for all kit which was sourced from UK sources rather than their own from supplies sent from Australia. So when they left it is not really surprising that they took it all home with them.

There are a couple of boxes in the UK national archives covering this and the disputes between the government departments as to what values to place on supplies.

This is also the reason for most of those odd UK sourced vehicles which are around.

Hi Andrew

I am not well read on all of the details re: the vehicles that returned from the M.E. campaigns. But, I suspect that not all of the British kit issued came back with the AIF - because the AWM pics show examples of CDF 6X4 Morris Commercials in AIF service ( with a artillery unit ) , but none of those trucks have ever been found here . Maybe there was a leasing arrangement where some vehicles were returned to the British M.E. authorities.

Yes, some of the original Aust. sourced vehicles ( Chevs and Fords) did make it back. But I would suggest that: army drivers being what they are, the attrition rate or write off rate, would have been high. If 30 to 50% of the soft skin vehicles made it back in one piece, I would be surprised.

BTW I came across a British carrier in Tasmania , near Deloraine ... maybe that's the one already mentioned.