A DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY Minute Paper, undated but we can guess dates to February 1941, stated that as a result of contact with the branch of the Diretcor of Mechanization, information set out concerning the equipping of the AIF and AMF had been supplid.
AIF:
Units in addition to those on order for the purpose were required to complete:
a) initial equipment
b) war wastage
c) reserve pool for 6, 7, 8, 8 Div and Corps Troops
These were set under "War Office Types" and were broken down into two makes of vehicles, ie Chevrolet and Ford.
TABLE HERE
The % of Chevrolet to Ford was based on the complete equipment for a 4 Division Corps.
All of the above they said would be obtained throught he War Office and shipped direct from Canada to Egypt and they would require to be complete with all equipment "as our equipment throughout would not be suitable as it is built to Australian standards".
It then mentions that if it was determined to supply any more WO types and that these should be supplied through Australia, it was necessary to place the orders forthwith to catch shipments ex-Factory starting in October [1941] subject to priority of the Canadian Government. These units if shipped in October should be complete for delivery to the Army in Australia in mid-December [!]. It was recommended that if supplies of WO type units were to go forward through Australia that two Uniys complete in detail of all available War Department models made in Canada be shipped to Australia so that bodies and equipment may be developed and built in time to meet incoming chassis*.
In addition to the 4.329 WD Units [CMPs] there were a further 4.200 units on order for the AIF and it was estimated that it would be through October that these would be in the hands of the respective Units.
Also: Tractors were required for the AIF less 9th Division- 130 4 x 4; 23 6 x 6 and 14 4 x 4 semi-trailers, plus 79 4 x 4 and 5 4 x 4 semi-trailers for the 8th Divisiojn. It was recommended that orders be placed immediately for the balance of this equipment; availability being 100 per week for 1st June 1941 shipment.
The conclusion mentions that "providing the War Office release the 4,329 vehicles as listed earlier the AIF equipment of 'B' class lorries will be completed".
I believe, ladies and gentlemen, that this confirms that issues to the AIF and AMF were by requirements and the War Office in London were requested to release these from Britih supply, and hence money changed hands via London for these. I suggest that the same applied to the NZEF, but the Indian Army would have been catered for by the WO internally so to speak.
* My notes say that there was a "CD AGAINST S/M 2019 FOR A SINGLE CHEVROLET 3 TON TRUCK, AND ONE FORD COMPLETE TRUCK, 1 CAB/CHASSIS, AND 895 TRUCKS WITHOUT BODIES. IT ALSO INCLUDED A SINGLE BODY FROM THE CANADIAN TOP AND BODY COMPANY, FOR AUSTRALIA" :see next panel!