Quote:
Originally Posted by Gina Vampire
Maybe the 2/4 did entrain from Murgon and this it how the 13th new the line was too light .
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Yes I agree with that conclusion Gina. The series of 47 AWM photographs catalogued P01022 was donated by H. Jackson, presumably Hugh Jackson of 2/4th Armd Regt pictured below on the way to Murgon. It chronicles their epic drive through the bush from Wee Waa (Narrabri) to Murgon, initially attempted with tank transporters which became bogged, and the onward trip by rail to Caboolture, presumably to join the North Coast Line to Gympie. No doubt they got there eventually but the derailment would explain 13th Armd decision to drive direct to Gympie instead. It's an excellent photo essay and a fascinating insight into the difficulties of tank transport at the time.
Well done spotting camo on the overturned Stuart, it's good to have corroborating evidence of disruptive paintwork on Stuarts. Once again it's difficult to judge the colour, and comparison with the Cab 12 doesn't help because it's canvas.
Logically these 2/4th tanks would have received Light Earth disruptive, however this particular series of photos calls that into question, and certainly the Grant on the tank transporter appears to be Light Stone, freshly painted like the others it would seem. If so then perhaps it was a question of paint availability. This was a rather busy period for Armoured units, constantly on the move and preparing for possible deployment to NG, so there would have been limited opportunities to repaint vehicles, and they may have used whatever stocks were available at the particular location and time. Also the official change to Dark Green / Light Grey in November '42 would introduce further delay/disruption to supply. Not sure why Light Stone would be any more readily available, however it was certainly produced in far greater quantity than Light Earth, having been in use for a couple of years as opposed to three months, so perhaps there was residual stock in some of the Advanced Ordnance Depots. Ultimately it was a GOC decision, based on suitability for terrain, but it can't be assumed the currently approved colours were always readily available.
On the other hand the possibility exists that we are in fact seeing the currently approved scheme on these tanks, namely Dark Green / Light Grey. The vagaries of colour rendition in B&W processing make it difficult to rule out completely, and evidence of this scheme can be found as far away as Alice Springs in December '42.
NSW OR QLD, C. 1942. NO. 1 TROOP, C SQUADRON, 2/4TH ARMOURED REGIMENT, PICTURED WITH A GENERAL GRANT M3 MEDIUM TANK WHICH THEY WERE DRIVING FROM WEE WAA IN NSW TO MURGON IN QUEENSLAND. IDENTIFIED ARE, BACK ROW LEFT TO RIGHT: LIEUTENANT ALAN PROUSE; SERGEANT GIB STUPORT; UNKNOWN; UNKNOWN; GEORGE RICHARDSON; HUGH JACKSON; ALEC EVANS; ALAN ROBSON. FRONT ROW: JACK MCKAY, FRANK MORROW; JIM CHRISTOFF (BEHIND); DAVE WALLIS (FRONT); RON CLAXTON; REST UNKN0WN. (DONOR H. JACKSON)
NARRABRI, NSW, 1942. AUSTRALIAN GENERAL GRANT M3 MEDIUM TANKS BEING LOADED ONTO TRANSPORTERS FOR TRANSPORT TO QUEENSLAND. AFTER CONSIDERABLE TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSPORTS BOGGING AFTER HEAVY RAINS, THE TANKS THEMSELVES WERE DRIVEN MUCH OF THE WAY TO MURGON. (DONOR H. JACKSON)