2/8the Armoured Regiment, 2nd AIF, was raised in 1941; saw service in New Guinea in 1943-44; returned to Australia and disbanded to form Nos 41, 42, 43 Landing Craft Companies RAE which saw service in South West Pacific 1944-45.Honour Board 2nd/8th Armoured Regiment 'Died on Active Service.' Timber board finished with gloss varnish. Lettering is in gold paint with red paint lines. Names listed are: Arthur Sprunt, Bill Allen, Wally Rowe, Johnny Bourke, Bob Kennon, John Dalley, Peter Lawrence, Gordon Roy and Stan Johnson.military, honour board, 2/8 armourned regiment

Geoffrey R Fink volunteered for military service in early 1940. He served initially with 3rd Division A.A.S.C. but was discharged as being in a reserved occupation at the Aircraft Production Commission. He resigned from the Commission and joined the AIF on 28 July 1941 and was allotted to 2/8th Armoured Regiment. He served with the regiment in New Guinea and on return to Australia was transferred to No 41 Landing Craft Company serving out the war in the South Pacific. Geoffrey Fink died 14 March 2008 aged 86 at Wangaratta Victoria.Complements other objects in the collection relating to this WWII soldier.AMF members personal equipment card"VX 60307 Fink G,R. Sapper 10-44 - 8 - 3 - 46"fink geoffrey r mr, 2/8th armoured regiment, 41 landing craft company

This uniform was worn by Lieutenant Colonel J Allard who commanded 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles 1959-1962. Col Allard had served in the pre-WW2 militia, then in 2/4th Armoured Regiment (AIF). Following the war he joined the CMF and served as 2i/c 4/19 PWLH prior to taking command of 8/13 VMR. He maintained close contact with the Regimental Association and following his death in October 2018 at age 98 his family donated this uniform to the museum. The uniform was known as 'mess undress' but served as formal winter dress until 'mess dress' was made available in 1970s. Mannequin dressed in Blues uniform with beret and 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles badge with emu plume tuft behind badge. Uniform has 8/13 VMR regimental buttons, lieutenant colonel badges of rank and WWII service ribbon bar. military, uniform, allard, vmr, blues

Colonel Leslie Coleman was the Honorary Colonel of 8/13 VMR. Colonel Coleman graduated to the RAAC from the Royal Military College in 1939 and transferred to the 2nd AIF in 1941. He was adjutant of the 2/10 Armoured Regiment when the unit was raised in 1941. Later in the war he was attached to British 7 Armoured Division in Western Europe during and shortly after the invasion of Normandy. Lieutenant Colonel John Neale served in the Royal Australian Navy in World War Two. Following the war he returned to Albury and joined the 8/13 VMR in 1948. He rose through the ranks and became the Commanding Officer in 1974. He too was the Honorary Colonel 1990-92. Major Norman Whitehead MC served with the 21 Light Horse prior to World War Two. He joined the AIF and served with 2/6th Armoured Regiment. He was wounded during the capture of Buna New Guinea 1942 and awarded the Military Cross. Following the war he was one of the original officers of the 8/13 VMR when it was raised in 1948. He was squadron Commander of 'A' Squadron. He maintained close contact with the regiment after his retirement and frequently visited annual camp.Black and white photograph of Colonel Coleman, Lieutenant Colonel John Neale and Major Norman Whitehead taken during 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Annual Camp at Puckapunyal 1974.Ink stamp on reverse "Mikainis Photo Studio / 23 Jun 1974 / 61 Goulburn St., Seymour / Telephone 92-2141 Vic"military, world war two, vmr, camp, coleman, neal, whitehead

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 Brigadier H.H. Hammer, Commander 2nd Armoured Brigade and Staff - Sargeant R.J. Roberts, Orderly Room Sergeant of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles.Comd 2 Armd Bde, Brig H.H. Hammer, pinning British Empire medal on S/Sgt R. J. Roberts, Earlsfield Road, Hampton, O/Room Sgt of 8/13thVictorian Mounted Rifles at Puckapunyal Camp during 14 day camp of Regiment in January. S/Sgt Roberts saw service in M.E., England, and South Africa with Australia Mil Liaison Staff. S/Sgt Roberts was a member of champion Victorian debating team, and trained Regt team to highest standard yet attained in services.Gave up great deal of own time in this work, and also re-organizing orderly rooms of units in country areas. Is a member of ARA.