UK order for Australian built carriers

[Mike K]

I do not have the papers to hand however would think that this relates to the India based purchasing body that was set up to provide the resources for Commonwealth forces outside Europe. They did put an order in for 2000 carriers also ordering carriers from New Zealand


Interesting , thanks.

[Mike Cecil]

Andrew, yes, you are indeed correct: the orders were placed through the EGSC, however, as can be seen from the file and other NAA documents, the Aust Govt declined to supply until such time as the AIF/AMF were fully supplied with carriers, and the UK Ministry got cold feet because of the differences between the UK and Aust MG carriers.

Similar can be said for the order to supply 25-pdr field guns and trailers - by the time Aust requirements had been satisfied, the UK/EGSC no longer required other than a small number of guns from Australian manufacture.

Mike