goanna Posted January 19, 2018 Share Posted January 19, 2018 (edited) Hi I found some interesting info in the Australian army registration books , these books are held at the AWM and are online . Ships loaded with vehicles on board were heading for Singapore when the nips overran Malaya. The ships were diverted and the vehicles were unloaded at Australian ports . I have found MWC's, WOT2D's , Austin K2Y's and more. The WOT2's were disposed beginning from late 1944 , I have seen a few of these ex-bush fire brigade examples over the years. Some of the MWC's went to fire brigades as did Morris CS8's. Edited October 15, 2023 by goanna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landrover nick Posted January 19, 2018 Share Posted January 19, 2018 Hi i saw your post about this on another site when i searched through the ledger i found 15 bedford MWCs Australian army registration numbers 50277-50291 intrestingly tha Australians recorded the trucks engine numbers which the british RLC archive keeps no record of ,did the Australian army use many bedford MWs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goanna Posted January 19, 2018 Author Share Posted January 19, 2018 (edited) 2 hours ago, landrover nick said: Hi i saw your post about this on another site when i searched through the ledger i found 15 bedford MWCs Australian army registration numbers 50277-50291 intrestingly tha Australians recorded the trucks engine numbers which the british RLC archive keeps no record of ,did the Australian army use many bedford MWs At least one MWC was shipped to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea , and it was used by a searchlight unit there in 1942 . I think some of the refugee vehicles stayed in vehicle parks for the duration. They were a odd bod bunch and didn't see much service in the Aust. army. They were surplused/ sold beginning in 1944 to Govt. departments or purchased by the parent company eg Ford, Morris , GM in Australia, then sold through the dealerships to farmers and other essential users Edited January 19, 2018 by goanna 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goanna Posted October 15, 2023 Author Share Posted October 15, 2023 (edited) Looking through the Australian Army vehicle registration ledgers I have found: vehicles listed as refugee cargo. Morris C8 2 pounder Portees ( approx. 30) Thornycroft Searchlight trucks X 6 reg. 50213 - 50218 Albion House type workshop and Breakdown trucks 50201 - 50209 Bedford OY ( approx. 10 ) Albion recovery truck 6wh. 50264 Leyland 6wh Recovery and B/down trucks Bedford MWC Water tank trucks 50277 - 50291 Canadian Ford FGT gun tractors 50293 - 50302 Dodge 3 ton GS Dyson Sound ? Locator The Wandin Rural Fire Brigade WOT2 has a 1951 reg. number plate. Edited June 14 by goanna 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rupert condick Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 Hi I really should go and have a look over the ARN books again. great find, lots of the refugee cargo is not listed(maybe), as I found BSA and Royal Enfield m/c's listed without there British WD no. on the lefthand page. Struggling still with Austin K2Ys that went to Queensland and kept a version of the British WD no. or just named, AUSTIN 1 etc. in the unit war diaries. Last 4 numbers are Austin K2Y Ambulances ( 3rd AACC), Also Indian M/C's appear to have gone down the same route.just blank pages in the books.(allotted to other organisations) But what there is is better than nothing. i have gone though the NAA files they have RAAF numbers, and other "C" numbers, which fills some of the blanks, expensive way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goanna Posted June 14 Author Share Posted June 14 Hi Rupert Yes it does seem to be that some of the refugee vehicles were not listed in the ARN ledgers i.e. I have not found any of the Morris CS8 trucks. Not sure about this but I believe some of the British equipment arrived here directly from the UK through the normal shipping channels, rather than being diverted 'refugee' cargo. This equipment included the many Spitfire aircraft and stuff like M/cycles and Tanks .. it wasn't all diverted cargo. The NAA files are good for some things The AWM held unit diaries don't have much for specific vehicle information.. but sometimes you may find a few vehicles as you did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rupert condick Posted June 16 Share Posted June 16 Hi My research I found that about 70 Austin K2Y ambulances arrived as refugee cargo, 1/2 approx went to Queensland, see film FO1986. and are not recorded, the only ones recorded went to NSW (35). Ministry Of Munitions, MOM Post Master General, PMG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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