Service of Frank Phillips Prior to the commencement of World War I, Frank Phillips served in the Minyip Troop of the Light Horse militia. His civilian occupation was that of clerk. On 22 August 1914 he enlisted in C Squadron 4th Light Horse Regiment. The 4th Light Horse Regiment embarked on the troop ship “Wiltshire “ for training at Mena Camp, in Egypt. During May 1915 the Regiment was deployed to the Gallipoli campaign in a dismounted role. After seven months, the Gallipoli campaigned was abandoned and the troops withdrawn. On return to Egypt the 4th Light Horse Regiment divided with one component deployed to Palestine and the other to the Western Front. Frank went on to serve in Palestine. He was promoted to Sergeant while at Gallipoli and, in Palestine, was promoted to Captain, serving as Adjutant of the Regiment. He was granted furlough to return to Australia from 14 October 1916 to 12 March 1917. On 16 January 1918 he was Mentioned in Despatches Citation: At Hill 750 near Bir El Esani on 30-4-17 he led an attack on Hill 750 under heavy rifle fire capturing the position and 7 armed Bedouins. On 23-5-17 during reconnaissance, he led and attack on 790 under very heavy rifle and machine gun fire and captured the position, inflicting losses on the Turks. He has, at all times, set a fine example of courage to his men. 22 October: 1918 he was awarded the Military Cross Recommendation of Commanding Officer – For exceptional gallantry and devotion to duty on the 28th September 1918, during the crossing of the JORDAN near EL MIN, this officer (adjutant of the Regiment) personally reconnoitred for crossings under heavy M.G. fire and led the Regiment to the only available crossing, rendering invaluable assistance during the crossing. On 3oth September when the Regiment was advanced guard on to KAUKAB, this officer’s personal reconnaissance to confirm patrol reports was of the highest order and utmost value to his C.O. culminating in the capture of KAUKAB with a mounted attack and the The 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse Regiment has a long and distinguished history that pre-dates Federation to colonial Victoria’s mounted troops. Our history parallels that of the nation, including its active participation in some of the most inspiring events in Australian Military History including the Defence of ANZAC and the charge at Beersheba. The Regiment is based on a linkage of the two post-World War II Victorian Army Reserve RAAC units - 4th/19th Prince of Wales’ Light Horse and 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles. From these units we derive our links with the six Light Horse Regiments of Victoria and Southern New South Wales (4th, 8th, 13th, 17th, 19th and 20th Light Horse Regiments.) The Regiment proudly bears the guidon of the 4th Light Horse, with the guidons of the remaining regiments being laid up in the crypt of the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance. During World War I, the 4th Light Horse Regiment served with distinction on three fronts – Gallipoli, Palestine and the Western Front. Corporal, later Captain, Phillips was a member of the 4th Australian Light Horse Regiment. He created the post card while serving with the Regiment as a Corporal at Gallipoli. Post Card hand made and sent to familyFrom Cpl Frank Phillips, 4th Australian Light Horse Regiment. Entries in pencil Front: Addressed to Andrew Phillips (father) at Minyip, Victoria, Message: “A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all, Made while on my day out. Love Frank” Reverse Top Centre – 4 LH Badge Centre – cloth map of Australia stapled to card Bottom – Print of flag stapled to card, Irish green ensign, Union flag in canton, gold coloured Irish harp on fly. Notations: Broadmeadows, Wiltshire (Troop Ship), Shrapnel Gully, Suicide Gully, Courtney’s Post Mena, Mex, Heliopolis, Imbros, Gallipoli, Turkish soil underneath (flag), Australia on Turkey, Lone Pine, Leans Trench, Constantinople, All honour to our Irish comrades, To greet you 1915-16. From the shells, yells, and little Hells, of the Darda Dardenelles 0 – 0 May you enjoy your Xmas dinner as I hope to enjoy my Xmas billy in the trenches.ww1, gallipoli, 4th light horse, post card, frank phillips

The 13th Australian Armoured Regiment was a Gippsland militia unit that had been called up for full time duty in December 1941 as a traditional light horse regiment. The early months of 1942 had seen the regiment lose its horses, a conversion to a motor regiment and finally to an armoured regiment in May. During this period there were considerable changes in personnel, however the regiment maintained its strong links to Gippsland and its former identity. Between May and November 1942, individual soldiers had become proficient in their trade training and the regiment changed its focus to troop and squadron activities. On 16 November 1942, the unit was located at the Puckapunyal Army Camp. C Squadron's training program involved a night driving exercise where a column of armoured and B vehicles would depart camp at 0245 hours and proceed to a site to the East of Seymour and set up a bivouac between Whiteheads Creek and Highlands Road. Numerous army camps surrounded the Seymour area; and much of the surrounding farm land had been acquired for military purposes. By November 1942 exercises such as C Squadron's were commonplace and had been repeated on numerous occasions since 1939. At 0400 hrs, C Squadron's vehicles reached O'Sullivan's Paddock on the Kobyboyn Road; prior to reaching the Old Telegraph Road the column turned to the North towards a known crossing point on Whiteheads Creek. The column consisted of seven M3 Medium Tanks and four Universal Carriers. In the case of Corporal McLeod's vehicle, there were seven crewmen rather than the usual five man crew. On arrival at the creek crossing, Captain C.M.I. 'Sandy' Pearson dismounted and with the assistance of Sergeant R.J. Ball began to guide individual tanks across the creek. Four tanks had crossed the creek without difficulty when Corporal McLeod's tank, ARN 24652, began its descent. Captain Pearson stated at the Coroner's Inquiry in December 1942, "Whilst climbing out of the ford the vehicle swerved to the left, apparently striking the tree. It was not the portion of the tank (front) that struck the tree. The tank straightened and appeared to be well under control, suddenly the bank on the left collapsed to the extent of 3ft by 12ft by15ft long causing the vehicle to slide into the creek and turn upside down." Captain Pearson and Sergeant Ball were faced with a nightmarish situation: The Grant had come to rest upside down in soft mud, six crew members were unaccounted for, escape hatches could not be opened and the weight of the tank was settling deeper into the water and mud. Compounding the problem was that the location of the tank did not allow for the other tanks to safely conduct a recovery. It was truly the darkest night.Single A4 card. folded, Contains an account of the raising of 13 Armoured Regiment in December 1941and a tank accident during a night creek crossing in which six crewmen were killed, and, Order of Ceremony for plaque unveiling, Guest of Honour LtCol Stuart Cree CO/CI School of Armour13 armored regiment, tank accident, puckapunyal

Francis Charles Pearson was born on 23rd August 1913 in Ballarat. During the course of his long life -he died just before his 96th birthday - he was a successful businessman, notably in the field of air conditioning, as well as a world renown farmer noted for his cattle breeding methods. This was in addition to a meritorious military career. Frank Pearson enlisted as a 16 year old cadet in 6 Field Company, Australian Engineers on 29 Jan 1930., CSM in 1935, he transferred to 2 Field Coy RAE on 1 July 1936. Next, he joined the cadre of 2 AA Searchlight Coy, RAE and was commissioned on 14 Oct 1939. That unit became 53rd AA Coy, providing personnel for 1/54 AA Coy late in 1939. Lt Pearson was was 2IC at this time. When the unit was mobilised on 14 Sep 1940, T/Capt Pearson was appointed OC. Seconded to the AIF on 14 May 1941 he was appointed to raise A Squadron, 2/6 Armoured Regiment, and once that was done, he raised B Squadron. Promoted temporary Major in June 1942 he served with the regiment in Stuart tanks during the difficult operations around Cape Endaiadere and Buna from October 1942 until April 1943. After return to Australia the regiment waited in vain for further operational employment. Frank Pearson was demobilised on 23 October 1945. With the raising of the Citizen Military Forces in 1948, Major Pearson was appointed 2IC 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles. On 1 January 1953 he assumed command of 4th/19th Prince of Walers's Light Horse Regiment, a post he held until the end of 1956. After service in more senior postings he retired with the rank of Colonel on 24 August 1964. From then until just a few years before his passing, Colonel Pearson remained actively involved in the life of his regiment. Following a couple of less successful attempts to do so, he was instrumental in establishing the regimental museum, these days the Unit History Room. Undaunted by a continuing sequence of changing venues it is to his credit that the history of the regiment is not only preserved but readily available to today's members of the unit and the general public. Coloured photo of Colonel Francis (Frank) Pearson OAM ED. Mounted in wooden frame.frank pearson, photographs

The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948 with Headquarters in Melbourne and squadrons in Sale, Benalla/Wangaratta and Albury. In 1955 Regimental Headquarters moved to Wangaratta and a second squadron was located at Albury. The Sale squadron transferred to 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. In 1977 8/13 VMR Regiment was reduced to an independent squadron A Squadron 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles and in 1991 was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse forming the VMR Squadron of that regiment.Black and white photograph of soldier sitting smoking, Khaki drill uniform with sergeants chevrons on sleeve, ribbon bar and air gunners wing and beret. One of a collection of photographs of 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regiment between 1948 and 1951. Sgt. Ian Kilty McKay thinking " I could be in trouble."