In 1965, 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles held a sustained Recruiting Drive. It was the responsibility of individual CMF units to do their own recruiting and training.Collection of photographs showing an armoured regiment of the Citizen Forces in the 1960s as it transitioned from wheeled armoured vehicles to tanks to M113 armoured personal carriers.Black and white photograph of Shopfront set up as temporary Recruiting Office for 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles. Mannequin and photographs visible in interior of building." Regimental Recruiting Office, Commercial Club Building 1965."

Henri John ARCHER was born in Brunswick Victoria, Australia, on 27th May 1907, to parents William Thomas and Hetta (née LAWSON) ARCHER. In 1934, Henri married Stella Florence COLLER, and they had 3 children. Living in Balwyn, Victoria, and employed as an Insurance Superintendent, Henri commenced full-time duty as an officer in the Citizen Military Forces from 7th July 1940, until 20th February 1941 (number V7097). His appointment in the rank of Major with the 7th Infantry Battalion was due to him having served part time as an officer in the CMF since 1927. On 21st February 1941, Henri joined the Australian Imperial Force and was appointed as a Major, with the number VX39872. Following the completion of various armoured corps training courses at Puckapunyal, he was taken on strength with the 2nd/8th Armoured Regiment. On 17th April 1943, Henri embarked for service in New Guinea, for a period of 2 months. He again embarked on 3rd September 1943, for service in Rabaul, returning to Australia on 6th February 1944. Following the end of the War, on 8th May 1946, Henri was appointed as a member of the War Crimes Courts with HQ 8MD, and embarked for duty with the War Crimes Trials in Rabaul two days later. Henri returned to Australia on 15th August 1946, and was subsequently transferred to the Reserve of Officers (Armoured Corps) list for the 3rd Military District (Victoria) on 27th November 1946. He was awarded the Efficiency Decoration, as well as the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, 1939-45 War Medal and the Australia Service Medal. He was also issued Returned from Active Service Badge number A343705. Henri died in Melbourne on 27th July 1971, aged 64, and his ashes are interred in the Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Banksia Wall ZJ, Niche 01. (Compiled by Karan CAMPBELL-DAVIS from historical records kept by Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria, the National Archives of Australia, and Find A Grave website. )Photograph mounted with timber frame. Some manuscript inscriptions of reverse.HENRI JOHN ARCHER / VX39872 / B 27 MAY 1907 / ENL 7 JULY 1940 / DISCH 26 NOV 1946 / OC A SQN 2/8 AAR [and] PURCHASED FROM EBAY / MAY 2024 [followed by signature undecipherable]wwii, armour, 2/8 armourned regiment, war crimes, rabaul, cmf

Notes of this type prepared in Vietnam by US Intelligence Center and commonly used for counter-revolutionary warfare training in Australia.Representative example of training material used in training of officers and NCOs of CMF units such as 8/13 VMR.White paper booklet 56 pages folded saddle-stitched and stapled. Prepared by Combined Intelligence Center Vietnam from reports from units in the field of methods of mine marking by Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army to indicate locations of mines to enable local villagers to avoid them. Ink stamps on front and back covers "Tactics Wing" and "To be returned to Tac Wing"south vietnam, mines

Training of this nature often carried out on Nail Tree Hill just west of Albury during a night parade. Soldier with Bren LMG Sergeant J Bauerle, Officer giving hand signal Lieutenant Allister Waite.Representative of night parade training carried out by CMF soldiers in early 1960s.Framed black & white photograph of soldiers from 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles engaged in a training exercise at night in a bush area. Ten troops in photograph armed with Bren light machine gun and .303 Lee Enfield rifles. Light wooden frame with glass panel.8/13 vmr, training, bauerle j sergeant, waite a lieutenant

Training Officers were regular army officers posted to Citizen Military Forces regiments such as 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles for training and administrative purposes. The practice was beneficial to CMF units and young ARA officers who gained a broader range of experience.Representative of methods of fostering excellence in citizen soldiers.Wooden shield with 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles badge at top centre and plastic plates attached giving details of the purpose of the trophy and recording winners. Competition was for Best Vehicle Crew and was presented 1984, 85 & 86, then 1990, 91, 92.Training Officer's Shield / Donated by Capt D M Cameron / Trg Offr Dec 1982-Dec 1984military, competition, ara, cmf, vehicle, crewman

8th/13th VMR was equipped with this family of British armoured vehicles in 1960sRepresentative of training pamphlets used in early decades of CMF.Green covered booklet " Royal Armoured Corps Training Vol111 - Armoured. Pamphlet 17 Armoured Personnel Carrier, 6 x 6, Saracen and Scout Car Recce Ferret Mark 2 1964." 60 pages, soft cover, stapled.On front cover " 10 " and " Lx Max "

Battery Quartermaster Sergeant Harold Bauerle served with the Albury Battery in the 1920s and 1030s. Shortly following Federation the military unit in Albury was redesignated No 4 New South Wales Battery Australian Field Artillery (AFA). It was under the command of Major John Wilkinson, an Albury solicitor and comprised about 100 citizen soldiers, 4 guns and about 40 horses. Training centred on the Albury Drill Hall located in Victoria Street. A reorganisation in 1912 resulted in the Battery being named No 17 Battery AFA. When war broke out in 1914 the Battery then under the command of Major Joseph Shellshear, and Albury doctor, offered its services as a trained artillery battery to the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). The Battery cooled its heels and continued to train till July 1915 when a second division was raised in the AIF and trained artillery was needed. When the call came 150 officers and men of the 17th Battery went into the AIF, many to the 13th Battery with Major Shellshear in command and others to other AIF batteries of the 4th and 5th Artillery Brigades. The 13th Battery was adopted immediately by the townsfolk of Albury as the Albury Battery. The Battery served in France and Belgium and was involved in all the major battles fought by the Australians perhaps most notably at Noreuil where the Battery found itself surrounded but continued to fight till eventually the enemy was driven back. Following the war members of the Battery nominated this battle as their most significant achievement and consequently a newly developed recreational reserve on the Murray River foreshore was named Noreuil Park. In 1919 the Battery resumed training as part of the Citizen Military Forces or Militia. Changes of title were frequent, first 27th Battery, then 60th Battery and finally 40th Battery AFA. Battery commanders included Captain Leslie Colquhoun, an Albury real estate agent, Captain Roy Collings, Albury town clerk and Captain Clifton Mott a newspaper editor. The Depression of the early 1930s almost brought about the closure of the Albury Battery but it survived through the intervention of the mayor, Alderman Alfred Waugh, who made direct representation to the Minister for Defence. When the Second World War erupted in 1939, the Battery was at full strength and a rich source of officers and trained men for the second AIF. Militia training of the few remaining officers and Albury adopted the 2/23rd Infantry Battalion which had been raised at the Showground. Following WWII, CMF soldiering recommenced in the form of an armoured regiment, the 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles. After nearly a half a century of service in war and peace the Albury Battery has faded and exists now in this collection of objects and images. This trophy is representative of community support for a Citizen Military Forces unit drawn from a regional NSW Town in the period between the World Wars.Silver cup with two handles mounted on Bakelite base being the McClure Cup for most efficient NCO in Albury Battery 1935-36 . inscription on side of cup."McClure Cup / for / Most efficient NCO / 1935-36 / won by / BQMS H.C. Bauerle"bauerle h c bqms, albury battery, mcclure cup

Us manufactured Browning machine guns were introduced to Australian Army in 1950s.The. 30 calibre replaced 7.92 mm Besa in Centurion tanks equipping 8/13 VMR in 1957. The. 50 calibre was mounted on some M113 carriers as Commanders MG. Representative of Training booklets issued to CMF units in the 1960sLightbrown covered booklet Browning Machine Gun Caliber .50HB, M2. Department of the Army Field Manual FM 23 - 65. December 1955

Soldiers were recruited by regimental efforts. Recruit training was carried out under Brigade control.Black and white photograph of a rows of soldiers at the 3/73 CMF Recruit Course. Several soldiers of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles are identified by their headgear and badges. Course appears to have been held at Beersheba Barracks Sisely Avenue Wangaratta.recruit, wangaratta, beersheba barracks, nulla

Jaffles were a very popular meal using tinned stew and issued sliced bread. Freshness of bread was not important.Good study of officer of 8/13 VMR cooking in the field.Black and white photograph of Lieutenant Bill Russell in beret and tank suit kneeling beside fuel stove holding a jaffle iron. Probably taken at Puckapunyal during 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Annual Camp, 1986. Plastic mug in foreground.Lt. Russellmilitary, training, stove, jaffle, cmf, vmr

Made for Department of Defence 1911Manufactured for Department of Defence by Holden and FrostBrown leather pouch with fold over front cover held shut by peg and key hole slot in cover.Two belt loops on rear. Pouch stitched on all joins.Holden and Frost1911 DOD CMF SA 611military, belt pouch

A letter written by Norm Smith and addressed to Kem Kemsley on 21 July 1975. It outlines recollections compiled by Norm Smith about the Intermediate Legacy Club (ILC) and individual members. His letter mentions 'Looking back over those years, recalling old time, old faces and places, we as Junior Legatees have a lot to be thankful for and I, for one, have always been exceedingly grateful to you, and those like you in legacy, who helped us so much.' Graham Billiet's letter dated 23 Mar 1974, mentions taking Frank Doolan to the reunion in 1974. Graham felt the ILC was winding down and was only running on half steam. He gives ILC members' addresses. Norm Smith's letter includes: Ted Kennedy, was the first president of the ILC, he was 'tall rangy lad with fiery red hair' who worked for United Distillers Ltd for 40 years (mostly in Brisbane where he joined Brisbane Legacy). Had been a keen junior legatee and taken part in Literary and Debating group and the Dramatic group where he met his future wife, Florence Pittard - which was the first marriage between junior legatees. He had been a naval cadet in the 1928 compulsory training and later joined the CMF where he was closely associated with L/ Stan Savige. He rose to rank of Major in AIF. Jack and Tom Kennedy, his brothers were in the Lacrosse team and his sister Molly in the JLC for years. G Billiet, a first nighter, very well known to legatees of the time. Bill Johnston, a studious type, went to MHS and university, became a Solicitor. Served in the RAAF as a Flight Lieut. Frank Corrie, prominent Junior Legatee in the Literary and Debating group, a fitter and turner by trade, was on JLC cricket and lacrosse teams, joined the AIF. Fred Hollingsworth, a motor mechanic, he joined CIG. He joined the AIF and served in the Middle East, and was one of the Rats of Tobruk as a sergeant. Bert Hollingsworth (brother of Fred) also in AIF and rank of Lieut. Is a past president of ILC. Bert Wood, a past president, worked for Victorian Railways, moved to Coolangatta. Dan Fitzgerald, active in the Drama group of JLC, worked as an announcer at the ABC. Alan Davidson, keen gymnast - particularly wrestling, helped with Alan Beattie (instructor of boys classes). Roy Davidson (brother of Alan) joined the AIF, afterwards joined M&MTB as a driver, married a Junior Legacy girl. Their younger brother Arthur was also in the lacrosse team. Roy Gilbert, keen junior legatee took part in Literary and Debating group and the Dramatic group and lacrosse team. Worked for Vacuum Oil Co., a past president of ILC and also married a Junior Legatee, Miss Lil Edmunds. Served in the AIF and was a Lieutenant in the Middle East. 'Jimmy' MacGregor, a colourful and handsome Junior Legatee, born in Collingwood, was one of L/ Stan Savige original contacts. Keen JLC gymnast and member of the football team. Worked at the Ret. Soldiers Woollen Mills in Geelong and was in the Geelong ILC. Frank 'Happy' Holliday, was in the lacrosse team, foundation member of ILC and past president. Served with the RAAF as an air frame fitter. Worked for L/ Con Fahle in the printing workshop for 40 years. Howard Auterey, joined the RAAF during the war and returned work for the State Saving bank before retiring in Warrnambool. Norman Smith, was working as an apprentice with M&MTB, took interest in Literary and Debating group and was in the lacrosse team. Was ILC president in 1946. Enliseted in the RAAF as airframe fitter. Retired from M&MTB after serving 50 years, married for 40 years to a daughter of an original Anzac who has also been an active member of the Ladies ILC for many years. Background: The ILC was formed in 1929. The idea of the club sprang from those boys who had outgrown the Junior Legacy Club. In the early days it fielded a lacrosse team and it was this that mainly held the members together (formed under guidance of L/ Jimmy Downing). Enthusiasm wained after a few years as it lacked a solid objective. The answer came from one of its members and in 1938 they founded the Don Esses Club. This was a club for the children of incapacitated ex-servicemen which met every Thursday night at 7.30 run by the ILC members. The name came from the signallers' code Disabled Servicemen's Sons. During the second world war 80% of the members of the ILC enlisted in the services. Leaving only 8 members that could not join due to ill health or reserved occupations. They continued the Don Esses and whatever aid they could to Legacy. ILC members had always helped Legacy where possible including being camp leaders or camp staff, with the annual demonstrations, and coffee stalls at the ANZAC dawn service. Post second world war some ILC members were nominated into Legacy, others drifted away in civil occupations. It was found difficult to recruit new blood into the ILC and eventually membership waned when the boys from the Don Esses clubs found other youth activities to join. The ILC ceased to meet regularly in the mid fifties. However a strong comradeship still existed between members and they would meet in one anothers homes. Members were always ready to help the senior Legacy Club in any way in their power and still helped at Christmas parties and summer camps. ILC was a service rendering organisation and was self governing. Non-sectarian and non-political, the members were ex-junior legatees over 18 years of age. After serving in World War 2 members were eligible to become members of Legacy. Was in a folder of material collated about the ILC by an early archive committee. A record of a Junior Legatee recording what he knew about ILC members and their life outside of Legacy in response to a request from L/ Kem Kemsley. It could have been part of the early archive committee working to capture Legacy history.White note paper x 18 pages handwritten by Norm Smith about the ILC members and a handwritten letter x 3 pages from Graham Billiet about ILC members with addresses.ilc, membership, junior legatee

From 1909-1929, all boys 12-14 yrs and men 18-20 were required to enrol for army training only for domestic service. In 1939 all unmarried men aged 21 yrs were required to register for 3 months training for service in Australia and its territories. This was expanded in 1942 when all men 18-35 yrs and single men 35-45 yrs were required to register for the CMF (Citizens Military Force) Many of these then volunteered for the regular army during WW2. However the biggest National Service intake occurred between 1951 and 1972 as a reaction to the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Initially this required all 18 yr olds to complete 176 days of military service. Then in 1964 the lottery system was invoked.Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 2002. Walking proud: these men were part of the July 9, 1957 national service intake chosen by ballot. The men are pictured at Puckapunyal army camp. Photo supplied by Ernie Hartland.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Alva Marie Bennetts. Alva initially enlisted as V515106 in the CMF, age 20 years on 19.2.1944 in the 4th Aust. AWS Training Battalion. From 23.3.1944 to 1.4.1944 she attended an Administration and Organizational Course and passed. transferred to LHQ Medical and Veterinary Stores. Transfers to No. 128 AGH QLD on 28.8.1944. On turning 21 she transfers to the AIF as VFX128835 on 1.9.1944 in AMC graded group 11. 12.11.1945 transfers to the Inter Services Medical Wing Demobilization Centre. promoted to the rank of Corporal on 24.9.1946. Embarks for Kure Japan with BCOF on 19.4.1947. Embarks for Australia 16.2.1949. Discharged from the Army on 13.4.19949 with the rank of Corporal in No. 130 AGH. Part of the Bennetts Collection - which also contains items of her father, William John Leslie Bennetts No.4433 1st AIF. Also her future husband Edward W Callaghan No. 147354 RAAF.Black and white photograph of a lady in uniform. She has a Corporal's rank insignia on her right sleeve below a Red Cross symbol. She is wearing a dark coloured beret with a Rising Sun badge attached. Mottled background to photograph.Handwritten on back of photograph, in black ink: 'Lots of love from Alva, Eta Jima, 18/8/48.'bennetts collection, alva bennetts, photograph, aaws, bcof

Peter Ball was conscripted for two years National Service beginning on 23.4.1969 Regt No 3796117. Postings, Recruit Training Puckapunyal Vic, Infantry Corp Training Singleton NSW, Infantry Corp Reinforcement Wing Ingleburn NSW, Jungle Training Centre Canungra QLD 3 weeks, ankle injury 5.9.69, return to Ingleburn, Basic Signals Course Ingleburn 5.11.69 - 10.12.69, Volunteered for service Vietnam, passed medically fit, fly out 3.3.1970 for Saigon, posted to Reinforcement Wing Nui Dat for 3 weeks acclimatisation training, posted to 6 Pl B Coy 8 RAR 25.3.70, embark HMAS Sydney for Australia 1.11.70, disembark Brisbane 12.11.70, posted to Enogerra Barracks Brisbane, posted to Vic Barracks Melbourne 5.3.1971 for discharge, posted to Sale 2 weeks with CMF fortnight Camp, discharged from the Army 23.4.1971 with the rank of PTE. Enlist in the CMF Geraldton WA in A Coy 16 RWAR on 24.6.1978 same Regt No, discharged re interstate transfer on 18.2.1981, rank L/Cpl.Pay Book No C 23443, brown covers with green tape on binding, print in black on front, hand written in black texta, white label on with hand writing in blue pen, 40 pages with entries in blue & red hand writing, large purple “DISCHARGED” stamp on many pages, rear page has a yellow envelope taped on with 3 X “Pay Book variation Authority” slips in, off white, layout in green, typing in black with red hand written items on, rear page cover has photo of a soldier with name, rank and date onFront cover in texta, “3796117 BALL PETER CHARLES”, date stamp on page 1 “23 APR 1969”, rear page photo date has ,”26.4.69”. Pay book Variations Authorities dated, “14.12.70, 14.12.70, 15.12.70” pay books, administrative record, soldiers

Manuals supplied for training and for maintenance in relation to use and upkeep of the Bren Gun. Robert Duncan Vincent enlisted initially as V11896 in the CMF on 17.3.1941, attached to AHQ Cartographic Coy as a Draughtsman 18.3.1941, Cpl 2.6.1941, Sgt 24.10.1941, transfer to the AIF as VX116906 on 3.12.1942, detached to Survey LHQ Bendigo, transfer to HQ BCOF 2.2.1946, emplane for Morotai 5.2.1946, embark for Kure Japan 7.3.1946, return to Australia 5.11.1946, discharged from the AIF 11.11.1946, rank Sgt in HQ BCOF.Small yellow/brown manual for the operation of the Bren Gun. Writing on cover and inside all in black and some illustrations. Centre page folding out to three standard pages with image of full gun and mount with individual parts identified. 12 pages inside.Written on front "VX116906 R.D. Vincent SGT" Titled "The Bren Gun Simplified" - price One Shilling.bren gun, training