Aussie WW2 staff cars

[Mike K]

This pic depicts the many colours of vehicles in use. Although the cars appear to have civilian number plates . The fourth car along is a 39 Dodge/Plymouth sedan .

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C51344

3821709.JPG

[Mike Cecil]

Hi Lang,

Wiked-pedia seems to have overlooked the 2nd and 3rd Army Tank Battalion Groups (100 tanks each and a pers strength over 90%) plus all the Coast Artillery and Search Light Units, fixed and mobile AA and SL units, AEME, transport units and Volunteer Defence Corps units that were still part of Second Aust Army in August 1943, as well as all the various schools and training establishments, so still a substantial force for the defence of Australia's east and south-east. The OOB list for the operational units is some 12 pages long, whereas the training establishments and units list is only 3 pages.

In 1944, the Formation, which was in the process of being substantially reduced as units re-formed and transited to other commands, also assumed responsibility for units defending South-East Queensland, and the training establishments in that area, such as the Jungle Training School at Canungra.

A nice set of markings to use on your car, Lang, representing an area of the defence forces not often represented on restored vehicles. For those interested, Lt Col Southwell's car carries the Formation sign of Second Aust Army (horse, facing left as viewed, over a boomerang) and the unit sign of the NSW Coast Anti-Aircraft and Coast Artillery Signal unit (white over blue, divided horizontally, unit code numerals in red) which provided signalers to all the fixed defence fortress and AA units. As Second Aust Army shrank, that unit was later re-designated in April 1945 as the Eastern Area AA and CA Signal unit.

Mike

[Lang]

Thanks for the expanded information Mike.

Lang

[Mike K]

Lots of chrome on this one. Maybe it went to a civilian who had the permit , a doctor or similar.

https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/r...+213/207/1/271
BRG-213-207-1-271.jpeg


1941 models ?


https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/r...+213/207/1/270
BRG-213-207-1-270.jpeg


https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/r...+213/207/1/268
BRG-213-207-1-268.jpeg


https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/r...+213/207/4/494
BRG-213-207-4-494.jpeg

[Lang]

Mike

I think you will find the vast majority of staff cars that did not go to the Middle East had the chrome left on them regardless of within Australia or operational areas. Most of the New Guinea staff car photos show chrome fully exposed.

Lang

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Lang

Mike

I think you will find the vast majority of staff cars that did not go to the Middle East had the chrome left on them regardless of within Australia or operational areas. Most of the New Guinea staff car photos show chrome fully exposed.

Lang

I've seen a pic of AWAS drivers removing the army paint off staff car grills

Rather bad paint job or the sand blast effect !

https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/r.../PRG+691/12/15

PRG-691-12-15.jpeg

[Mike K]

Special stuff

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/a...40%20chevrolet

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/a...40%20chevrolet

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

I've seen a pic of AWAS drivers removing the army paint off staff car grills

Rather bad paint job or the sand blast effect !

https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/r.../PRG+691/12/15

Mike, I’ve attached some of the pictures found in your links for future reference (often the archives are rearranged over time)

I like that weathered desert look - “rat look” before the term was invented ;-)