Lord Kitchener visited Seymour as part of his review of Australia's military capabilities. Lord Kitchener was Commander-in-Chief of the British Army at the time of his visit. At the invitation of Prime Minister Alfred Deakin, Kitchener visited Australia in 1909 to inspect the existing state of defence preparedness of the Commonwealth, and advise on the best means of providing Australia with a land defence. Kitchener’s report, submitted in February 1910, recommended the introduction of compulsory military training which was immediately adopted, as was the establishment of the Military College, Duntroon: It has been definitely decided that Seymour will be the site of the Kitchener camp. The troops which will make the strongest muster at the camp will be the Light Horse. This being so, the suitability of the chosen area for cavalry operations has necessarily had to be considered in selecting the site, and an additional factor is that Seymour is practically in the centre of the Light Horse districts. The country round Seymour is also suitable for artillery manoeurves, and there is no available area in the vicinity of Melbourne where these could be so well carried out. As it is considered that Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener will desire to see the troops on the move, the reason for choosing such a district as Seymour is apparent. The eight days to be devoted to the camp will be mainly occupied in moving the troops over a considerable area, and in carrying out certain tactical operations. Many of the sites recommended have been inspected by officers of the head quarter staff, and all that now remains is that the exact situation for the main camp should be selected, Major Luscombe will visit Seymour on Saturday to inspect the surround country, and select the most suitable places. The intention will be directed to sites closer to the town. Yea Chronicle (Yea, Vic), 9 December 1909. Black and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper and mounted on board.Obverse: Beechworth Light Horse (pen) / Kitchener Camp / Seymour / 1910 / Reverse: 8743 / Mrs R Scott / military album, burke museum, burke, beechworth, beechworth light horse, light horse, world war one, wwi, 1910

Part of a group of WW1 photographs including AIF camp, 1914, officers of T.M.s, Light Horse Battery.Black & white photograph of a soldier in uniform, standing near a large mantle piece, with no insignia or colour patches. postcards, photographs, world war 1, light horse, william smith

Australian Light Horse BatteryBlack and white photo of a group of WW1 soldiers in uniform of Australian Light Horse. One soldier marked with an arrow.Dear Norm, this is just a rough photo of the Battery. I have place an arrow just over my Hat, I will get it taken decent in Blighty apres la Gare, after the war, or when I get my leave. You may give this to Aunt Louie if you like & this other is of our Officers.postcards, photographs, light horse, world war i, military, william smith

Map extract showing the towns of Cheddar, Rodney Stoke, Westbury and a smaller town of Easton. The area depicted is part of Somerset, England. Map is hand drawn by J.J. Raisbeck date unknown. John James RAISBECK was born on 4 July 1880 at Christchurch New Zealand. He served 4 years (Citizen Military Force - CMF) in 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment in Central VIC with the rank 2nd Lieutenant. He was the first Australian appointed to the Survey Section RAE, on 16 April 1910, as a draughtsman which was his civilian profession, with the rank Warrant Officer, honorary 2nd Lieutenant. He was required to resign his commission in the CMF. He supervised the draughting work of the Section in Melbourne and was largely responsible for the mapping standards and specifications set in the production of the Cowes one-inch-to-one-mile military map, which became the enduring Australian standard. He was also responsible for supervising the printing of the maps by the Victorian Government Printer. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the AIF Survey Corps draft on 6 December 1917 (from Melbourne) embarking for England on 22 December 17. He was attached to the Australian Corps Topographic Section in France from 21 April 1918 to 5 March 1919 serving as Second-in-Command and as Officer Commanding. He was promoted Lieutenant 15 October 1918, attending the AIF Survey School, Southampton in 1919, returning to Australia 23 June 1919, before his AIF appointment was terminated 17 July 1919. He went on to serve the Survey Section RAE and Australian Survey Corps, including in the Second World War, having been promoted Captain then Major and Officer Commanding Army Headquarters Cartographic Section until February 1940. He retired after 33 years of service to military survey, and after serving the Corps in two world wars, on 4 July 1943 with the retired rank Lieutenant-Colonel. He was the author of the article ‘A Short History of the Military Survey of Australia, 1907-1936’, published in The Australian Surveyor, Sept 1, 1937Map extract slightly larger than A4. Scale: One Inch to One and a half Mile. 1:31680, 9 x copiesSignature of "J.J. Raisbeck" bottom right-hand cornerroyal australian survey corps, rasvy, fortuna, army survey regiment, army svy regt, asr

This is a trophy awarded at a camp of the 4/19 Light Horse Regiment. This regiment appeared to have been based in the Corangamite region of the Western District and included regiment members from Warrnambool. It is not known exactly what type of competition was an ‘Officers Flutter’. Light Horse regiments were cavalry regiments that were established at the time of the Crimean War in the 1860s. During the First World War the 4th Light Horse served with distinction in France, Gallipoli and Palestine. In 1948 the 17th Prince of Wales Light Horse, the 19th Yarrowee Light Horse and the 4th (ex 20th ) Corangamite Light Horse amalgamated to form a revived 4/19 Light Horse. This regiment kept alive the tradition of the original Light Horse units, becoming part of the Australian Army Reserve and members served in Vietnam and East Timor. This cup is of interest as an example of the trophies awarded for competition at a Light Horse regiment camp in the 1930s. This is a metal cup (silver amalgam)) with two side handles and a narrow stem attached to a silver base. The cup is attached to a brown Bakelite stand. The inside of the cup has some white paint streaks and the cup itself is much stained and pock-marked. ‘Westminster’ 4/19 L.H. Camp 1938 Officers Flutter light horse regiments. warrnambool district, history of warrnambool

Part of the Leo Reoch Cohn Collection. Leo Reoch Cohn served in both World War 0ne and World War Two. He enlisted in the 1st AIF on 23.9. on 6.5.1915, initially in the 22nd battalion (No. 1039), aged 18. Shortly after, on 11.9.1915, he transferred to the 8th LHR and embarked for Egypt on 23.9.1915, serving in both Egypt and Palestine. During that period of service, he transferred to the 1st Australian Light Car Patrol on 8.9.1917. This unit later became the 1st Australian Armoured Car Section. Leo began his return journey to Australia on 16.5.1919. Shortly after his RTA, he was discharged. While on active service overseas, he was hospitalized on a number of occasions due to illness. During World War Two, Leo enlisted in the 21st Battalion VDC (No. V360272) on 18.5.1942 at the age of 44. He was appointed Lieutenant on 25.6.1942. Leo's VDC service was terminated on 31.10. 1945 following the end of World War Two. .1) Tailored khaki woollen officer's dress jacket with silk like fabric lining. Two button-down breast pockets and two button down-side pockets. All buttons are military issue. Unit colour patch on each shoulder (8th ALH). Above the left breast pocket is a World War One trio of medal ribbons. An attached fabric belt has a metal buckle. .2) Light brown cotton drill jodhpurs with button fly. Knee reinforcement pad sewn on the inside of each leg. Button down hip pocket and two side pockets. Belt loops and buttons for braces on the waist band..2) On manufacturer's label: 'Pytchley, MADE IN ENGLAND'. Handwritten in black ink on waistband: 'COHN'.uniform, 8th light horse regiment, leo reoch cohn

These images capture for all time Light Horsemen travelling through Geelong on their way to camp at Torquay for the last Group meeting in Australia . information following - details obtained from .........https://torquayhistory.com/light-horse-brigade/ On Australia Day, 1997, Sir John Young unveiled this plaque on Point Danger, Torquay. Torquay history, Light Horse Training Camp, WW2 Plaque at Pt. Danger Note----- (See images to view plaque) The plaque identifies a significant event in Torquay’s history and the sentiments of ‘change’ for the Light Horse Brigade – from horses to machines. In 1940 the four Light Horse Regiments (4th, 8th, 13th and 20th), some 5000 Light Horse and 2000 horses camped and trained at Torquay. Three other regiments, formerly mounted on horses, were also at Torquay ‘mounted’ on privately owned trucks and cars. Division troops included Artillery, Engineers, Signals, Field Ambulance and other branches of the Army necessary to enable a Division to function. It wasn’t just the sheer numbers of men coming to this little town that made the event significant, it was also the fact that the men of the Light Horse were dramatic, almost glamorous figures and it is easy to see their exploits as some splendid adventure. Horses have played a special role in the story of Australia. They were the only means of transport across this huge country, so it was necessary for everyone to have the ability to ride a horse. When war broke out in 1899 between Britain and the Boers of South Africa (“Boer” was Dutch for “farmer”) Australia sent troops to fight. At first Britain was wary of using untried, unprofessional colonial cavalrymen but soon saw that the slouch-hatted Australian “bushmen” were a match for the fast-moving and unconventional mounted commandos of the Boers. The Australians proved themselves to be expert rough-riding horsemen and good shots. Bush life had hardened them to go for long periods with little food and water. They also showed remarkable ability to find their way in a strange country and use its features for cover, in both attack and defence. By 1914, when Australia joined the war against Germany, there were 23 Light Horse regiments of militia volunteers. Many men from these units joined the Light Horse regiments of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Men were given remounts (if not using their own horses) – army horses bought by Commonwealth purchasing officers from graziers and breeders. These were called “walers” because they were a New South Wales stockhorse type – strong, great-hearted animals with the strains of the thoroughbred and semi-draught to give them speed, strength and stamina. On 1st November, 1914, Australia’s First Infantry Division and the first four Light Horse regiments sailed for England in a fleet of transport ships. The first of the Light Horse arrived at Gallipoli in May without their horses. Back with their horses after Gallipoli, they were formidable combatants across the Sinai and Palestine. Some British commanders observed that the light horseman moved with a “lazy, slouching gait, like that of a sleepy tiger” but described how the promise of battle “changes that careless gait, into a live athletic swing that takes him over the ground much quicker than other troops”. They had Light Horse, Torquay, training campdeveloped a reputation as formidable infantrymen. The Turks called them “the White Ghurkas” – a reference to their deadly skill with the bayonet. The Arabs called them “The Kings of the Feathers”. The plume had originally been a battle honour of the Queensland Mounted Infantry for their work in the shearer’s strike of 1891. During WW1 it was adopted by almost all the Light Horse Regiments. It was the proud badge of the light horseman. The most famous of their battles was the attack on Beersheba- the charge of the 4th Light Horse Brigade. Mounted infantrymen and their superb walers had carried out one of the most successful cavalry charges in history – against what seemed impossible odds. They surprised the Turks by charging cavalry-style, when they would normally have ridden close to an objective then dismounted to fight. The fall of Beersheba swung the battle tide against the Turks in Palestine; and changed the history of the Middle East. While 19 men from the Surf Coast Shire served with the 4th Light Horse over the course of WW1, only four were involved in the charge of Beersheba- John GAYLARD, Philip QUINN.(Winchelsea); Wallace FINDLAY (Anglesea); Harry TRIGG (Bambra). After the war, Light Horse units played a key role in the Australian Government’s compulsory military training programme. The Citizen Military Forces (C.M.F.) thrived on the glamour of the wartime Light Horse tradition, ignoring the possibility that motor vehicles would soon replace the horses. When training was no longer compulsory, the C.M.F. regiments declined and horses became more of a luxury during the 1930s depression years of poverty and unemployment. Some regiments were motorised. Then, in 1939, Australia joined Britain in another world war. Training was increased for the militia at both home bases and regional training camps. The camp at Torquay in 1940, commanded by Major General Rankin, was at Divisional strength. By the end of the camp some felt that the Division was ready for active service. Gradually, over the next four years, the Australian Light Horse units were mounted on wheels and tracks and the horses were retired. Six men enlisted at the Torquay camp and another 57 men and women enlisted at Torquay for service in WW2. Those who served in the Militia provided valuable Officers and NCOs and men for the armed services during the war. Each infantry division of the 2nd AIF had a Light Horse regiment attached to it. But the day of the Australian mounted soldier hadn’t quite passed. During World War II, Australia’s 6th Cavalry Regiment formed a mounted unit they called “The Kelly Gang” which did valuable scouting work. In New Guinea, a mounted Light Horse Troop did patrol duty and helped carry supplies. Some fully equipped walers were flown into Borneo for reconnaissance in rugged mountain country. But by the end of the war, in 1945, the horse had disappeared from the Australian Army. References: Australian Light Horse Association www.lighthorse.org.au National Australia Archives Australian War Memorial Surf Coast Shire WW1 memorials www.togethertheyserved.com The Light horse- a Cavalry under Canvas Light Horse, Training Camp, Torquay, WW2 Late in 1939 it was decided to set up a Lighthorse training camp in Torquay to train both men and horses for the battles of the Second World War. Horses, men and equipment came on special trains from all over Victoria and NSW, and as you would expect horseman came from areas such as Omeo and Sale, the Wimmera and the Western District. They arrived at the Geelong racecourse for watering in the Barwon River and then were ridden across the ford at the breakwater and began their 11 mile trek to Torquay. Light Horse, Training Camp, Torquay, WW2 Tent city By the end of January 1940 the camp at Torquay accommodated some 5000 men and 2500 horses of the Second Cavalry Division. The rows of horses, tents and huts near Blackgate Road were quite a sight. While the cavalrymen engaged in exercises on the land and on the beaches, many of the troops took over the Torquay School for special training of men and officers. Mr Bob Pettit local farmer and Councillor for the Barrabool Shire, wrote about the Light horse in the Surf Coast Community News in 1985 saying “They used to travel about the district riding four abreast in one long convoy. To my annoyance they went through my property and shut all the gates behind them. I had certain gates open to let stock in to the water holes and it would take me three -quarters of an hour to follow the horsemen up and put all the gates right again” he continued “the men from the Light Horse were here when the fire went through in March 1940. He recalled an incident when early one morning, as some one blew the bugle, a soldier putting a white sheet on the line frightened the horses. They panicked and ran off in all directions. Six went over the cliff near Bird Rock, five were never found, and the rest were gathered up after nearly a fortnight in the bush around Addiscott and Anglesea" Light Horse, Training Camp, Torquay, WW2, Geelong Parade Geelong parade The training camp culminated in a parade through the streets of Geelong on March 12th 1940. The salute was given at the Town Hall and the troops continued on a route to the You Yang’s for a training exercise. Note-----(see media section for photograph) The Camp was abandoned in mid 1940 as it was deemed unsuitable for training during winter and the cost of a permanent camp could not be justified if it could not be used all year. Historic.......Rare,,,Interpretive.Sepia photographs.set of four ....post card size ....Horses &LighthorsemenNo 1, Lighthorsemen Regiment Geelong 1940......No 2 Light Horse at Breakwater Geelong 1938 to 1940....No 3 Light Horse at Breakwater Geelong 1938 to 1940.....No 4 Light Horse crossing Breakwater camped at Geelong Showgrounds. These markings are on reverse of photographs.light horsemengeelong 1940., world war 2

Photographs from 17th Light Horse Regiment collection box. .1) Black print bottom: Two hundred officers & men of the 17th & 19th Light Horse were in training at Bendigo last week. 1. LIEUT A V PALMER 2. Jumping in pairs 3. The camp trumpeter 4. LIEUT COL H K RAWSON CO of camp on right with his staff 5. Watering the horses 6. Machine gun practice 7. Some of the men.1) Laminated photocopy of 7 numbered black & white photographs, Light Horsemen Soldiers in uniform, horses, machine gun, mounted on archival cardboard, from newspaper article, black & white top & bottom. .2) Laminated photocopy of colour photograph, 8 Soldiers in uniform mounted on horses, white print label lower right..1) Black print: "March 18 1933 The Weekly Times Magazine Section, Light Horsemen in Camp in Bendigo" (see notes for bottom details). .2) White print: "The Army, then, now, and for the future. All had a part to play"photography-photographs, military history - army, light horse, passchendaele barracks trust

Each photograph is captioned: .1) LHS: LT E P SEYMOUR (later LT COL) & CAPTAIN E E STEVENS, 1930's. RHS: Visit of the Duke of Gloucester to Bendigo 12.11.1934. The Duke centre with the Major speaks to LT PALMER, 17th Light Horse. .2) Top: Troopers of 17th Light Horse in Pall Mall in front of the Memorial Hall Bendigo. Officer is LT A V PALMER (later LT COL) on Snow; Bottom: Officers of 17th Light Horse at Bendigo Racecourse 1937. Centre front: MAJOR GENERAL G T RANKINM DSO, VD. .3) Top: SGTS of 17th Light Horse winning Assault Course Broadmeadows Army Camp 1927; Bottom: Officers 17/19th Light Horse at Bendigo Racecourse Camp 1932. .4) Top: Horse Llines 17/19th Light Horse 1931; Bottom: Sgts Mess 17th Light Horse Broadmeadows Camp 1927. .5) Top: 17th Light Horsemen trucking horses Bendigo Railway Station 1931; Bottom: Cohuna Troop of 17th Light Horse at Bendigo Racecourse Camp 1932. CAPT A V PALMER, CO centre rear. .6) Visit of Duke of Gloucester to Bendigo 1934, Escort official from 17th Light Horse Regiment in Mitchell Street. Duke & Major seated in rear of car; Bottom: 17th Light Horse Machine Gun Regiment with Vickers MG 1937. .7) 17th Light Horse as M G Regt Bendigo Camp 1937. LT A V PALMER, R SCHIER, A LEEDS with range finder; Bottom: 1939 Officers 17th Light Horse MG Regt at Bendigo. See also 2619P for larger named copy of this photograph..1) - .7) Collection of black & white photographs consisting of 2 photographs per card. Photographs are printed on red card. Copies of originals. .1) LHS: 2 Officers standing. RHS: Officer on horse speaking to 2 men on foot. .2) Top: Mounted troops; Bottom: Group of Officers standing. .3) Top: Mounted troops charging with swords drawn; Bottom: Group of Officers. .4) Top: Line of horses with 2 Troopers attending; Bottom: Group of Sergeants. .5) Top: Troopers loading horses into a railway truck; Bottom: Group of Troopers. .6) Top: Officer riding a white horse through a crowd; Bottom: Machine Gunners training. .7) Top: 3 Light Horsemen using a range finder; Bottom: Group of Officers.photography-photographs, military history - army, passchendaele barracks trust

List of names printed on card on photograph: 17th Light Horse Regiment Photograph taken at Bendigo Racecourse Top row: 1. W TAYLOR 6. A DANSON 7. E P SEYMOUR Mid row: 1. A WALKER 4. N HALL? 7. R PIPER 8. W STRUTT Bottom row: 1. V PALMER 2. D HAMMER (MAJOR GENERAL) 3. P RIDDLE 7. H GREINERPhotograph, black white colour, group portrait of 22 uniformed Officers of the 17th Light Horse Regiment. Wooden frame painted black. Label on photograph, black print on white cardboard showing list of names.On frame cardboard back in blue ink: “Passchendaele Barracks / Trust”photography-photographs, frame accessories, passchendaele barracks trust

Framed photograph of Thomas Henderson (Officer). Upper body facing forwardOn back of frame "Photo Mrs Joan Hope HENDERSON" On the back "Thomas Hope HENDERSON 1833-1899 Captain commanding Sandhurst Troop PW VV Light Horse 28/04/1888"photography - photographs, frame accessories, sandhurst troop