Dutch buy ex-Australian vehicles

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Looks like these Ford/Marmon-Herrington trucks have those typical Australian 18” wheels, so these may well be part of the batch of Ford trucks bought in Australia.

The door windows have the 1/4 vent sections which indicates Ford Australia made the cabs. But the 4x4 Australian assembled trucks were usually 39 to 41 models. The cargo bodies don't look like they are Art tractors either. The late Ken Morris of Pakenham had a 1942 6x6 M-H . I've not seen a 4x4 jailbar but somebody else will chime in with more info.

[Mike Cecil]

Mike,

From post #6(my bolding):

"Mr. Dedman said that in 1945 the Commonwealth Disposals Commission sold to the Ford Motor Company 470 unassembled chassis, less front axle assemblies, for resale to the Royal N.E.I. Army.
The Royal N.E.I, Army arranged to purchase through the American authorities sufficient Marmon Her-rington conversion kits to complete the assembly of the chassis.
The Ford Motor Company in turn arranged [to] produce the completed trucks.
The Commission's responsibility in this matter ceased with the disposal of the 479 incomplete unassembled chassis'."

The Australian Army was working on a Tractor, Artillery (Aust) No.10, based on a Ford 1942 'jailbar' with a MH all wheel drive kit, but the requirement was shelved after the prototype was completed or near completion. There was also the purchase of Ford chassis for 4x2 lorries that were no longer required due to (1) the changing operational situation and (2) the move away from Modified Conventional vehicles to more rugged military pattern vehicles, which resulted in an 'over-supply' of MC types, hence the 'stock' of 470 un-used chassis.

Mike

[Mike K]

Interesting stuff. I noticed the 4x4 jailbar trucks pictured in Hanno's post appear to be RHD but I guess the Dutch weren't too fussy about minor details ! Ford must have supplied the wheels ? The chassis were sold by the CDC to Ford minus the front axles. I guess the original front axles were disposed separately ? A convoluted saga.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Thanks Mike and Mike, interesting stuff indeed!

This thread features some details on Austrilian Ford/Marmon-Herrington trucks with the 1942 "jailbar" front end: #5 & #7 M/H (Aust) Field Artillery Tractors.

Here are some more pictures of those ex-Australian Ford/Marmon-Herrington trucks. Look at those V-profile 18" tyres: they must have been brand new when these trucks were sold off.

144245929_4011088605591551_2003940549966796052_n.jpg

NL-HaNA_2.24.04.03_0_14565.jpg NL-HaNA_2.24.04.03_0_14564.jpg

Source: National Archives: http://proxy.handle.net/10648/3d74aa...d-a1441348b399 | http://proxy.handle.net/10648/80ed74...3-2197a07a02cf

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

A convoluted saga.

Indeed, the Dutch were scrounging the world market for equipment as more and more governments condemned the Dutch reluctance to stop the war on Indonesia's independence. It is interesting to see how they were able to trade with commercial companies and set up deals like the one above.

While arms deals were scrutinized, manufacturers could get export permits for regular/civilian vehicles. The Dutch authorities were not worried about details like gloss or matt paint, LHD or RHD. Many vehicles were ex-Canadian and British Army with RHD, and the drving in Indonesia was on the left anyway.

Attached are some pictures of more Ford/Marmon-Herrington 6x6 F-series trucks and Willys Civilian Jeeps. Seems the only military thing about them are their registration numbers and markings, they were used in action with gloss paint and shiny chrome as there were no resources to repaint them.

144642113_4011086452258433_7755981095590753764_n.jpg 143738185_4011084742258604_7504708152953606009_n_Ford F6-Marmon Herrington trucks.jpg 189074511_4331665060200569_7599827751171486282_n.jpg

[Mike K]

The Dutch soldiers pictured were mostly conscripts ? I believe some younger Dutch males emigrated rather than be conscripted into the armed services .

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

The Dutch soldiers pictured were mostly conscripts ? I believe some younger Dutch males emigrated rather than be conscripted into the armed services .

Yes, the majority were. I once met a veteran of the Dutch Prinses Irene Brigade, he joined as a volunteer after the South of the Netherlands was liberated in '44. He was 17 years old at that time.
After the war, he was drafted for military duty as in the meantime he had turned 18. He reckoned he had done his bit in '44-'45 but that did not count they said, he had to serve for his official conscript period in Indonesia.

[Ian Fawbert]

In adding to this post, and slightly related but sideways from Mike Cecil's post about the Royal NEI Army, there are LOTS of entries for disposal of Australian vehicles in the AWM ledgers citing the purchaser/disposal line being the RNEIA.

Cheers,
Ian.