UK order for Australian built carriers

[Mike Cecil]

Andrew, yes, you are indeed correct: the orders were placed through the EGSC, however, as can be seen from the file and other NAA documents, the Aust Govt declined to supply until such time as the AIF/AMF were fully supplied with carriers, and the UK Ministry got cold feet because of the differences between the UK and Aust MG carriers.

Similar can be said for the order to supply 25-pdr field guns and trailers - by the time Aust requirements had been satisfied, the UK/EGSC no longer required other than a small number of guns from Australian manufacture.

Mike