UK order for Australian built carriers

[Mike Kelly]

The UK Ministry of Supply were interested in buying 2000 Aust. built carriers but the order didn't go ahead.

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Sear....aspx?B=216182

[Andrew Morrison]

I do not have the papers to hand however would think that this relates to the India based purchasing body that was set up to provide the resources for Commonwealth forces outside Europe. They did put an order in for 2000 carriers also ordering carriers from New Zealand

The idea when the organisation was set up in 1940 was that as much of the kit and supplies required for the 40 divisions that were to be deployed should be sourced and traded within the rest of world region so that they would not be drawing on the supplies that the UK was seeking from the USA and Canada. It was noted that Aircraft and armoured vehicles were to only be made in the UK.

Territory involved ranged from the Pacific to the Middle East and on to southern Africa and all areas in between. Purchasing was co ordinated through the office that was set up in Delhi

The NEI were asked to join however they declined advising they had already set up a relationship with Australia that was supplying what they required and did not want to disturb the relationship

Working as a co ordinating body they would seek to match production or capability in one country with demand in another

They set up an ammunition factory in Greece and an optics factory in Palestine

Some of the correspondence I have includes Hong Kong complaining that they obtained torches from India that were made in Hong Kong. The British Pacific Fleet noting that the blankets they were being supplied with from the UK were made in Australia

A lot of railway track, signalling equipment and rolling stock was supplied to India from Australia which was organised by this body

As a clearing house they were responsible for supply of the US forces and their allies in the Indian region. After the war was over they then totalled up how much the US had spent then deducted this from how much the UK owed the US

The above is from memory it must be over 10 years since I found these records at National Archives in London

[Mike Kelly]

I do not have the papers to hand however would think that this relates to the India based purchasing body that was set up to provide the resources for Commonwealth forces outside Europe. They did put an order in for 2000 carriers also ordering carriers from New Zealand


Interesting , thanks.

[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