AIF vehicles to the Middle East

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Writing from memory, Canadian Archives files show that the first expression of interest in Canadial military vehicles from Australia was in 1938. However Australia then officially enquired of Canada for 1,900 DND-pattern 4 x 4 trucks in spring 1940. I believe that the first Australian orders, i.e. cash purchases by the Australian Government were actually placed in 1941: probably around June. Until then I suggest that Australian supply was by way of diverted British M of S orders as already discussed.

'It is not known as yet when the first Australian-order Canadian Military Pattern trucks were ordered, although there were Ministry of Supply orders for both Chevrolets and Fords for Australia, including diverted orders for Singapore. G.M.-Holden’s Woodville Plant figures show that over 5,000 military cabs were produced for Australian forces in 1941. Further, it would appear that the earliest Australian-built cabs on C.M.P. chassis were the No. 12 Cabs, which used minor quantities of timber, thought succeeding type No. 13 used all-steel . We do know, however, that Woodville Plant commenced engineering in September 1941 when the first parcel of information was received from G.M. of Canada. No doubt Ford’s Geelong Plant undertook similar work at about the same time'.