WW2 Photos

[cliff]

David here is a AWM photo which shows two of these Canadian built Chevs (RHS) alongside two Holden Bodied examples, one of which is painted service green rather then the light stone of the returned Middle East vehicles. Photo caption is.....

ID Number: 025817
Physical description: Black & white
Summary: ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA. 1942-03. NO NEED FOR DISPERSAL NOW FOR FEAR OF AIR ATTACK, THESE VEHICLES, RECENTLY RETURNED FROM THE MIDDLE EAST WITH THE A.I.F. ARE DRAWN UP AT A CAMP OCCUPIED BY TROOPS WHO RETURNED IN THE SAME CONVOY.
Copyright: clear
Related subject: Motor vehicles
Related place: Adelaide; Middle East

Related conflict: Second World War, 1939-1945

The reason I have added this is the top two photos showing the vehicles on the train is not dated and the Chev utility behind the 3 tonner appears to be painted a lighter colour which could be light stone. Could this utility be one of the returned Middle East vehicles? If so the 3 tonner could also be a returned Middle East vehicle which has been refurbished by the workshops before being reissued. The photo of the NR7 model Macks in the outback dates that photo to about 1943.

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

That seems to prove that not only CMPs and carriers that were issued to the AIF in the Mid East! I have the contract numbers for Egypt deliveries and this seems to slot in. I can however imagine that ex-Mid East and direct shipments would be mixed up, especially with Holden refurbs. Great stuff!

[cliff]

here is another AWM photo showing Holden Bodied trucks with the heavy front bumper and a brush guard.

Caption...

ID Number: 084090
Physical description: Black & white
Summary: ATHERTON, QLD. 1944-12-14. ATHERTON DETACHMENT NO.1, QLD LINES OF COMMUNICATION AREA BULK ISSUE PETROL AND OIL DEPOT PERSONNEL OPERATING AS A MOBILE UNIT IN THE TABLELAND AREA FROM CIVILIAN UNDERGROUND EMERGENCY TANKS POSITIONED DURING THE JAPANESE ADVANCE. IDENTIFIED PERSONNEL ARE:- PRIVATE F.J. WALDUCK, (1); PRIVATE V.F. CLANCEY, (2); SERGEANT C. O'BRIEN, (3); PRIVATE T.J. MCFARLANE, (4).
Copyright: clear
Related subject: Petrol and oil supply; Group portraits
Related unit: Bulk issue petrol and oil depots; Queensland Lines of Communication Area
Related place: Atherton

Related conflict: Second World War, 1939-1945

[cliff]

Here is another AWM photo showing the imported Chev CC60L with a custom built van body on and a different front bumper again. I am assuming the rear van body was built locally onto an imported cab/chassis. These may have been bought back from the Middle East and rebuilt or imported direct to Australia.

Caption....

ID Number: 141861
Maker: Herald Newspaper
Physical description: Black & white
Summary: Brighton, Vic. 1944-10-23. Two Mobile Welfare Vans presented to the RAAF by members of the Brighton Hostess Air Force Auxiliary.
Copyright: clear
Related subject: Vans; Welfare
Related unit: Royal Australian Air Force
Related place: Brighton (Vic)

Related conflict: Second World War, 1939-1945

[Mike K]

The lighter 1 ton variant is rather scarce . Back in 1981 I bought a ex army 1941 1 tonner for 50 bucks , up at Orange NSW . It had the GMH cab and sat on 17" wheels. I flat towed it from Orange to Cargo behind my 1946 Dodge ute .It was vandalised by the locals thee and ended up a wreck, it was in very good cond. too. The cab had a stencil on the wall .
VANS 1 Ton GS .

The little GMH badge said - paint : KHAKI 'defence enamel green'.

It was hairy towing it along the hilly road from Orange . The rear tray was a wooden thing .. original army one was long gone . Somebody had removed the cyl. head and it was in the back . The brakes worked well .

On the same trip I found a Fordson WOT2H in a field of lucerne . The local Butcher in Canowndra owned it . I approahed him and I got it free ! I borrowed Bedford wheels and flat towed it to Cargo behind the Dodge ,my 15 year old nephew steered it . Its brakes worked too , mechanical type.The skinny Bedford 20" wheels made it look very odd . The gearbox was full of water . i had to remove the rear half shafts to move it . It was in December and the heat nearly killed me , it was jammed on a old log and I had to jack it off . The door had a graziers name on it .. from Canberra of all places .The cab was excellent .. front wings stuffed . chassis good . Wish I had kept it . I sold it for 100 bucks to a NSW collector . I've got pics of all this .

Mike

[jim sewell]

Thanks Cliff for the pictures , I notice that in your last post the 2 chev van bodied trucks could be Lend Lease trucks as they both have the wider front bumper which I have seen on L/L trucks used for civilian purposes around here.( one piece door window, not side cowl air vent )
From all of the posted pictures there appears to be 3 different front bumpers .
The pictures below from the left , L/Lease civilian , 2x Aust bodied 10.50 x 18 tyres.
Regards
Jim S.

[cliff]

Originally Posted by jim sewell

Thanks Cliff for the pictures , I notice that in your last post the 2 chev van bodied trucks could be Lend Lease trucks Regards
Jim S.

Jim that is why I called them CC60L rather then Holden bodied as they are in fact the imported type. Easy ways to tell the difference are that the local Australian Holden bodied Chevs have small quarterlite vent windows in the doors and side vents on the side of the cowl unit. The imported CC60L vehicles did not have these features.

I have other photos showing the different types of front bumpers on Chevs but the main ones are posted.

[Max Hedges]

Originally Posted by jim sewell

Thanks Cliff for the pictures , I notice that in your last post the 2 chev van bodied trucks could be Lend Lease trucks as they both have the wider front bumper which I have seen on L/L trucks used for civilian purposes around here.( one piece door window, not side cowl air vent )
From all of the posted pictures there appears to be 3 different front bumpers .
The pictures below from the left , L/Lease civilian , 2x Aust bodied 10.50 x 18 tyres.
Regards
Jim S.

Jim the 2nd chev in your photos is one we had once and now belongs at the AWM and the arn is 29678 and it still has it's orginal engine.I found out that truck number 29679 was wrecked in the middle of 1941 but didn't find the age of the one we had.