Dutch buy ex-Australian vehicles

[Mike Kelly]

I've seen references to the NEI in the ARN books

[Hanno Spoelstra]

That is very useful info, Mike!

I've often heard about the Dutch buying vehicles in Australia, but never seen any concrete evidence. The Dutch took over much equipment from the British-Indian Army which occupied Indonesia before them, another source were the ex-Canadian Army dumps in Holland, and bought new vehicles from civilian sources like Willys and Marmon-Herrington. Apparently the hunger for vehicles was so huge they were buying up vehicles in Australia, too.

[Tony Smith]

"Australian unions are trying to prevent the departure of the Tjibesar today"

I wonder if that is in protest over the ships being loaded by Dutch Marines, or in protest of the vehicles supporting the Colonial Dutch against the Independence movement of the Indonesians? Or could it be the Wharfies wanted the Blitzes and Jeeps for themselves? Yeah, probably that.

[Mike Kelly]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

"Australian unions are trying to prevent the departure of the Tjibesar today"

I wonder if that is in protest over the ships being loaded by Dutch Marines, or in protest of the vehicles supporting the Colonial Dutch against the Independence movement of the Indonesians? Or could it be the Wharfies wanted the Blitzes and Jeeps for themselves? Yeah, probably that.

They were actually against the colonial Dutch

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

or in protest of the vehicles supporting the Colonial Dutch against the Independence movement of the Indonesians?

Indeed the international politic climate was anti-colonial, due to which it became increasingly difficult for the Dutch government to source military equipment from other nations and defence industries. Hence buying up dump equipment and vehicles in the Netherlands and Australia as we now know.

Of course a truck is a truck, so these were sourced from civilian sources and used as-is, shiny paint, chrome trim and all. A good example is this Dodge stake bed truck pictured in 1948:

NL-HaNA_2.24.04.02_0_5686.jpg
Source: http://proxy.handle.net/10648/c45bf8...6-72c934d10deb

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Another snippet of information on ths subject unearthed by Mike:

"Query on Gear Sold To Dutch" (1947, april 17). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 10

Interesting to read about international trade of buying and selling incomplete vehicles, parts and the subsequent assembly. The twisting and turning of where responsibilities start and end in political sensitive situations is interesting to read. For situations like this the end-user certificate was invented.

nla.news-page000019750063-nla.news-article187272919-L5-20d1fbefd11be6a35f98e24a44ec59f4-0001.jpg
CANBERRA: Fourteen boats ranging from 120 ft. to 26 ft., as well as a-few surf boats have been sold by the Federal Government to the Netherlands East Indies Government.
The Minister for Post-War Reconstruction (Mr. Dedman) told the Leader of the Country Party (Mr. Fadden) this in the House of RcpresentaUves to-day.
The Commission, he said, had no knowledge of other vessels whicli might have been acquired by the N.E.I.! possibly through ships' brokers and agents in Australia.
Mr. Dedman had been asked by Mr. Fadden whether his attention had been drawn to a recent arUcle in "The Telegraph," Brisbane, in which n special correspondent stated that because of the Australian waterside workers' ban an their ships the Dutch were unable to obtain 1,000 motor trucks, 300 small lighters, 100 large lighters and 12 tugs which they had ' bought ' from the Disposals Commission.
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 produce the completed trucks.
The Commission's responsibility in this matter ceased with the disposal of the 479 incomplete unassembled chassis'.
The question of delivery of motor vehicles was one between the Ford Company and"the N.E.1. authorities. Mr. Dedman said.
The Commission was not aware of any small craft purchases by the Netherlnads authorities for which deliveries could not be obtained, he said. "

[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.

C7FF6507-C469-4329-A3DD-325CCB60D490.jpg