On 19 May 1908 authority was given for the formation of the 'Australian Volunteer Automibile Corps'. This Corps was disbanded in 1916, but during its short life it proved to be the forerunner, but not the ancestor, of the present day Royal Australian Armoured Corps. During World War 1 the first Australian armoured car despatched to the war was manned by volunteers of this Corps. On 1 July 1929 the 19th Light Horse (Yarrowee Light Horse) ceased to be maintained. In 1935 the 19th Light Horse (Armoured Car) Regiment became the 1st Armoured Car Regiment (Wimmera Regiment) forming part of the 2nd Cavalry Division with detachments at Horsham, Nhill, Dimboola, Rupanyip and Murtoa.Electroplated nickel EPNS silver tray, oblong with bowed sides. Tray patterned with concentric striations. 14.5 cm elliptical space in centre containing inscriptions. On front: "FIRST ARMOURED CAR REGT TROOP DRILL CONTEST A Sqn, B Sqn, C Sqn 1934." On back: Hallmark - G 712 6 pointed star containing "8" over boomerang. EPNS S&Snhill, 1st armoured car regiment, silverware, troop competitions

A biographical honour roll of the: Australian Light Horse 1939-1947, Australian Armoured Corps 1941-1947 & Royal Australian Armoured Corps post 1947. 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Supplement kia, war casualties, peace time casualties, honour roll, deaths, australian light horse, australian armoured corps, 2 4 armoured regiment, 101 australian motor regiment, 14 australian armoured regiment, 4th australian motor regiment, 4 19 prince of wales s, light horse regiment

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