One of series of WWI postcards. Light railways were an important transport method on the Western Front. Pioneers primarily carried out construction work but were also trained infantrymen.Black and White photograph mounted on card, of soldiers crowded onto open cars on a light rail train" No11 - A party of Australian Pioneers returning to their dugouts,"wwi, world war one, pioneer, railway

Warrant Officer Class One Ron Almond served on the 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles cadre staff before being posted as a member of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) in 1969. There he was posted as adviser to 17th Armored Cavalry Squadron. He later returned to 8/13 VMR as Regimental Sergeant Major. The AATTV was a specialist unit of military advisors of the Australian Army that operated during the Vietnam War. Raised in 1962, the unit was formed solely for service as part of Australia's contribution to the war, providing training and assistance to South Vietnamese forces. Initially numbering only approximately 30 men, the size of the unit grew several times over the following years as the Australian commitment to South Vietnam gradually grew, with the unit's strength peaking at 227 in November 1970. Members of the team worked individually or in small groups, operating throughout the country from the far south to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in the north. Later they were concentrated in Phước Tuy Province as Australian forces prepared to withdraw from Vietnam. It is believed to be the most decorated Australian unit to serve in Vietnam; its members received over 100 decorations, including four Victoria Crosses, during its existence. The unit was withdrawn from Vietnam on 18 December 1972 and was disbanded in Australia on 16 February 1973. A total of 1,009 men served with the unit over a period of ten years, consisting of 998 Australians and 11 New Zealanders. Representative of a connection between Australian Army Reserve and South Vietnam.Wooden shield with coloured plastic emblem mounted at centre and engraved metal plate below.Presented to / 8/13 VMR OR's Mess / By Ex RSM 8/13 VMR / WO1 Ronald M Almond / 17th Armoured Cavalry Sqn / Advisory team 116 / Republic of Vietnam / May 1969-May 1970military, cadre, aattv, vietnam, cavalry, armour, almond

Colour patch identifies the hat as belonging to a member of the 26th Light Horse (Machine Gun) Regiment, a CMF (militia) regiment raised around Geelong and western Victoria c.1939. First tasked with coastal defence in south-western Victoria and later Western Australia.rare example of headgear of a CMF regiment from Victoria mobilised for defence of mainland Australia during World War Two.Khaki slouch hat with colour patch on puggaree and rising Sun badge on turned up brim.Stamped inside band: V553 / 6 7/8 / 1942military, slouch hat, light horse, machine gun, world, world war two, wwii, cmf

Helmet of a type worn by soldiers the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam, commonly known by Australians as the Vietcong, was an armed communist political organization in South Vietnam and Cambodia. Its military force, the Liberation Army of South Vietnam, fought against the United States and South Vietnamese governments during the Vietnam War, eventually emerging on the winning side. The LASV had both guerrilla and regular army units, as well as a network of cadres who organized peasants in the territory the Việt Cộng controlled. During the war, communist insurgents and anti-war activists insisted the Việt Cộng was an insurgency indigenous to the South, while the U.S. and South Vietnamese governments portrayed the group as a tool of North Vietnam. The helmet usually had a waterproof cover often with camouflage scrim.Representative if the uniform of the guerrilla forces opposing Australian forces in Vietnam.Sun helmet with red star mounted centre front.military, helmet, vietnam, vietnam war, guerrilla

Maurice Miles served in the Australian Army in World War Two and was present at Cowra when the Japanese POW breakout occurred. He joined Citizien Military Forces in 1965, serving with 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles till 1985. He was a keen rifle shot and this shield was a way of fostering the skill within the regiment.Representative of community efforts to foster military skills in citizen soldiers.Wooden shield with 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles badge at centre and plaques arranged around edges recording winners of competition.Donated by / S Sgt Maurie Miles / & Family / upon his retirement / 8/13 VMR / 1965-1985cowra, cmf, vmr, military, world war two, marksmanship

Embroidered shoulder titles were worn on the upper sleeves of uniform prior to the introduction of colour patches c.1990. Regular regiments used the numerical designations First, Second, Third and Fourth. CMF regiments used their territorial designation: Victorian, Queensland, New South Wales, Hunter River, South Australian, Prince of Wales's and 10th Light Horse. Australia’s defence plans and priorities changed after the Second World War. Decolonisation coupled with competing ideologies created an unstable situation in the Asia-Pacific region. Australia recognised it needed both regular and citizen forces. Six Armoured Corps regiments were formed in 1948, all with territorial titles reflecting their Light Horse heritage. In Victoria they were 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse and 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles. The 1st Armoured Regiment, formed July 1949, was the first regular RAAC regiment, followed by 2nd, 3rd and 4th Cavalry Regiments decades later. Unique collection of regimental titles worthy of preservation and display.Display board containing the badge and shoulder title of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles flanked by the formation signs of 2nd Armoured Brigade. These are followed by the shoulder titles of Royal Australian Armoured Corps and eight other RAAC regiments.military, titles, uniform, ara, cmf

Souvenir of significant event, raising of Citizen Forces in 1948.Small statuette of soldier holding rifle standing beside dead tree and large rock with engraved plaque attached.50th COMMEMORATIVE MARCH / CMF/ARMY RESERVE / AUSTRALIA / 4TH JULY 1998 / ALBURY 1998military, cmf, army reserve, march, anniversary

The Light horse Heritage Troop of the 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles provided mounted escort to the Royal couple, HRH Prince Charles and HRH Princess Diana.In 1985, the portion of Puckapunyal Army Camp housing the Armoured School and Corps Museum underwent a major rebuild. The new facility named Hopkins Barracks was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles on 31 October 1985. Prince Charles, who was accompanied by his wife HRH Princess Diana, is Colonel in Chief of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC). The Barracks is named to honour Major General R N L Hopkins who was instrumental in the development of the RAAC and is affectionally known as the ‘father of the Corps’.Complements another group of photographs in the collection of this rare event on the Australian military calendar, It is taken from a different location by another photographer.Black and white photograph of men of the 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Heritage Troop escorting HRH Prince Charles and HRH Princess Diana at Puckapunyal 31 October 1985. Photograph is glued to fluted plastic backing card.military, royal visit, charles, diana, puckapunyal, hopkins, light horse

The 13th Light Horse Regiment (AIF) was raised at Broadmeadows Victoria in March 1915. Following service at Gallipoli the regiment was broken up with squadrons going to France as Divisional Cavalry Squadrons of 2nd, 4th and 5th Divisions. The regiment was reformed as firstly 1st Anzac Corps Mounted Troops and later Australian Corps Mounted Troops. The regiment was raised as 13th Light Horse (Gippsland), a Citizen Forces unit following WWI, and trained as a cavalry regiment till August 1940, when it converted from horse to mechanised initially as 13th Motor Regiment then 13th Armoured Regiment. It trained in Victoria and, as the Japanese threat to the mainland declined, was disbanded in October 1943 with men going to other units. Good study of pre-WWII light horseman in regional Victoria.Black and white photograph of mounted light horseman with second light horseman standing behind horse. Second horse to side.Pte Valentine Reginald Allison / 13th Gippsland Light Horse / Leongatha Showgrounds / c.1938 / (Grandfather of Cpl S Mather / Tng Sgt, 2001)military, militia, cmf, gippsland, leongatha, allison

Four men who served as National Servicemen in differing eras of Australian military history : 1929, 1939, 1957, & 1968national service, military, wwii, world war two, vietnam

Large hard cover book with leather spine and corner protection. The book was used as a minute book for the 7th Australian Light Horse (Victorian Mounted Rifles), and its subsequent renumbering 15th Light Horse (VMR), 20th Light Horse(VMR) and 20th Motor Regiment (VMR).. First entry dated 1905 and last 1945. In June 1970, the officers' mess of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles made a decision to use this book for its minutes, the previous book having been lost. Their last used is dated October 1975. There are miscellanous papers afixed towards the end of the book.military, mess, officer, minutes, vmr, wwi, wwii

The 2/8th Armoured Regiment was raised in June 1941 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel W G Hopkins with officers and men selected from the wider AIF in Victoria. The regiment trained in newly arrived M3 General Grant tanks at Puckapunyal before moving north to Singleton, then the Wee Waa plains. The regiment sailed for New Guinea in April 1943 and carried out mobile defence to airfields at Port Moresby, Milne Bay, Dobadura and Popondetta. The regiment returned to Australia in February 1944 and disbanded as an armoured regiment and retrained as Nos 41, 42 and 43 Landing Craft Companies. They returned to the South West pacific serving at Bougainville, Balikpapan, Lae and Wewak.Black and white proof photograph of 2/8 Armoured Regiment marching through Melbourne 17 October 1941military, melbourne, march, armoured, world war two, wwii, uniform

The 13th Light Horse Regiment (AIF) was raised at Broadmeadows Victoria in March 1915. Following service at Gallipoli the regiment was broken up with squadrons going to France as Divisional Cavalry Squadrons of 2nd, 4th and 5th Divisions. The regiment was reformed as firstly 1st Anzac Corps Mounted Troops and later Australian Corps Mounted Troops.Black and white photograph of a section of 13 Light Horse in France.military, wwi, world war one, light horse, france, cavalry

In August 1999, East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia. Violent clashes broke out immediately between rival factions. Many civilians were killed. The International Force East Timor (INTERFET) was a multinational non-United Nations peacemaking taskforce, organised and led by Australia in accordance with United Nations resolutions to address the humanitarian and security crisis. Australian infantry and cavalry were part of Australia's contribution. Reservists from 4/19 Prince of Wales's Light Horse transitioned to full time duty to serve with regular cavalry units. INTERFET handed over control to UN peacekeepers in February 2000.Disruptive pattern field uniform worn by soldier of VMR Squadren 4/19 Prince of Wales's Light Horse while on deployment with 2/14 Light Horse (Queensland Mounted Infantry) in East Timor in 2000.military, interfet, timor, vmr, pwlh, qmi, spinelli

Khaki drill was standard working uniform for tank crewmen of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles. Khaki drill was replaced by black tanksuit in 1959. 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.Mannequin dressed in khaki drill jacket and trousers with basic web equipment and pistol pouch, black beret with silver rising sun badge. uniform, tank, military, vmr, cmf

This form of winter dress for the Australian Army replaced the WWII style tunic c.1952. The silver regimental badge replaced the silver Rising Sun on the black beret in 1955.Mannequin dressed in battle dress uniform with boots, belt and beret. Hat badge is 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles.military, uniform, armour

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

Howard green jumper/pullover was issued to Australian Army to replace khaki V-necked pullover c.1980. It was a popular item of clothing for field wear and when coupled with a corps or regimental stable belt constituted smart barracks wear. Went out of service c.1994.Half mannequin dressed in Howard Green Jumper and 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles stable belt.military, pullover, jumper, howard green, uniform, belt, stable

On 31 October 1992, a parade was held at Australian War Memorial to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the charge at Beersheba, Egypt (present day Israel) on 31 October 1917 during the second battle of Gaza, by two regiments of Australian Light Horse, 4th ALH and 12th ALH to capture the all-important wells in the town. An Honour Guard drawn from the Victorian Mounted Rifles Squadron of 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse, commanded by Lieutenant Kelvin Robertson, paraded in the forecourt of the AWM together with a body of horsemen from the Light Horse Association. Host for the parade was Mrs Elyne Mitchell OAM, daughter of wartime commander Lieutenant General Harry Chauvel. The reviewing officer was Lieutenant General J C Grey OA Chief of the General Staff. Concurrently, a parade was held in Melbourne where 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse and other units and services exercised their right to freedom of the city. The parade concluded at the Shrine where wreaths were laid at the Light Horse memorial and the water trough.Colour photograph of Lieutenant General J Gray inspecting Honour Guard, AWM Beersheba Day, 31 October 1992awm, gray, robertson, beersheba

On 31 October 1992, a parade was held at Australian War Memorial to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the charge at Beersheba, Egypt (present day Israel) on 31 October 1917 during the second battle of Gaza, by two regiments of Australian Light Horse, 4th ALH and 12th ALH to capture the all-important wells in the town. An Honour Guard drawn from the Victorian Mounted Rifles Squadron of 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse, commanded by Lieutenant Kelvin Robertson, paraded in the forecourt of the AWM together with a body of horsemen from the Light Horse Association. Host for the parade was Mrs Elyne Mitchell OAM, daughter of wartime commander Lieutenant General Harry Chauvel. The reviewing officer was Lieutenant General J C Grey OA Chief of the General Staff. Concurrently, a parade was held in Melbourne where 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse and other units and services exercised their right to freedom of the city. The parade concluded at the Shrine where wreaths were laid at the Light Horse memorial and the water trough.Colour photograph of VMR Squadron Honour Guard on Beersheba Day parade , Australian War memorial, 31 October 1992.awm, vmr, beersheba day, robertson

On 31 October 1992, a parade was held at Australian War Memorial to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the charge at Beersheba, Egypt (present day Israel) on 31 October 1917 during the second battle of Gaza, by two regiments of Australian Light Horse, 4th ALH and 12th ALH to capture the all-important wells in the town. An Honour Guard drawn from the Victorian Mounted Rifles Squadron of 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse, commanded by Lieutenant Kelvin Robertson, paraded in the forecourt of the AWM together with a body of horsemen from the Light Horse Association. Host for the parade was Mrs Elyne Mitchell OAM, daughter of wartime commander Lieutenant General Harry Chauvel. The reviewing officer was Lieutenant General J C Grey OA Chief of the General Staff. Concurrently, a parade was held in Melbourne where 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse and other units and services exercised their right to freedom of the city. The parade concluded at the Shrine where wreaths were laid at the Light Horse memorial and the water trough.Colour photo of Honour Guard marching at Australian War Memorial, Beersheba Day, 31 October 1992. awm, vmr, parade, beersheba day, robertson

On 31 October 1992, a parade was held at Australian War Memorial to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the charge at Beersheba, Egypt (present day Israel) on 31 October 1917 during the second battle of Gaza, by two regiments of Australian Light Horse, 4th ALH and 12th ALH to capture the all-important wells in the town. An Honour Guard drawn from the Victorian Mounted Rifles Squadron of 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse, commanded by Lieutenant Kelvin Robertson, paraded in the forecourt of the AWM together with a body of horsemen from the Light Horse Association. Host for the parade was Mrs Elyne Mitchell OAM, daughter of wartime commander Lieutenant General Harry Chauvel. The reviewing officer was Lieutenant General J C Grey OA Chief of the General Staff. Concurrently, a parade was held in Melbourne where 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse and other units and services exercised their right to freedom of the city. The parade concluded at the Shrine where wreaths were laid at the Light Horse memorial and the water trough.Colour photograph of Honour Guard drawn for VMR Squadron 4/19 Prince of Wales's Light Horse dressing ranks at Australian War Memorial, Beersheba Day 31 October 1992.beersheba day, awm, vmr, parade

The 14/20th Kings Hussars was affiliated with the 20th Australian Light Horse. This affiliation carried over to the 8th/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles when it was raised in 1948 and subsequently, following linking in 1991, to the 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse. Wooden plaque with badge of 14th/20th Kings Hussarsaffiliation, hussars, light horse, plaque, warren

Lieutenant Des Martin was a member of the Wodonga Troop of the pre-WWII 8th Light Horse (Indi) regiment. He volunteered for the AIF, 12/6/1940 (VX31564) and served with the 2/2nd Pioneer Battalion in Syria and New Guinea. He was discharged 11/2/1944 with the rank of lieutenant. He was a horseman of considerable repute and was the author of the book “Australia Astride”. He provided valuable assistance to the 8/13 VMR Heritage Troop when it was raised. Wearing this uniform, he rode with a group of former light horsemen leading ANZAC Day marches in Melbourne for many years.Half mannequin dress in service dress tunic with 8th Light Horse lapel badges, silver buttons, badges of rank and colour patches. Complemented with slouch hat with 8th Light Horse hat badge and emu plumes, and Sam Browne belt.military, anzac day, melbourne, martin, pioneer, vmr, light horse, world war two, wwii

Artist unknown. The badge was modelled on that of the 20th Light Horse Regiment and replaced the silver Rising Sun hat badge in 1955. 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.Framed artwork being embroidered Victorian Mounted Rifles badge in four colours.artwork, badge, vmr, military

Colonel R Kershaw, Director of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC) was the Reviewing Officer at parade to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the raising of Victorian Mounted RiflesColour photograph of 'A' Squadron 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles offering a General Salute to Reviewing Officer at Buna Barracks 29 April 1990.military, vmr, buna barracks, albury, anniversary, kershaw

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.Colour photograph of Sergeant R. Wells of Technical Support Troop VMR Squadron 4/19 Prince of Wales Light Horse talking to Lieutenant ColoneL Alan Cunningham former Commanding Officer of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles at Dinner 25 May 1991.dinner, wells, vmr, cunningham

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.Colour photograph of Warrant Officer McDonald, RSM Royal Australian Armoured Corps, and former Staff Sergeant M. Miles 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles at Dinner 25 May 1991.dinner, miles, vmr, military

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.Colour photograph of chief steward, Corporal Tewson, inspecting table arrangement for a formal dinner at Buna Barracks 25th May 1991dinner, tewson, vmr, buna barracks, military