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 The unit was withdrawn from Vietnam on 18 December 1972 and was disbanded in Australia on 16 February 1973.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

Good quality slouch hat with genuine plumes.Good quality replica useful for displaySlouch hat with ACMF hat badge, cloth puggaree and emu plumesMade by Faybelfield / 1966military, hat, emu plumes, light horse

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

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

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

Good quality framed photograph of founder of Victorian Military Forces, Colonel Tom Price.Framed photograph of Colonel Tom Price in uniform of Victorian Mounted Rifles.victorian mounted rifles, vmr, price, uniform, hat, military, colonial

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

The Heritage Troop of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles was a very public face of the regiment during the 1980s and early 1990s. It conducted one royal escort, several vice-regal escorts and numerous VIP escorts in the border, north-east and wider Victorian locations. The royal duty was at the opening of Hopkins Barracks, Puckapunyal by HRH Prince Charles accompanied by HRH Princess Diana, 31 October 1985. Major General Kevin Cooke GOC 3rd Division authorised the establishment of the troop in February 1980. Captain (later Major) Robert Morrison was the troop leader and the driving force behind the concept seeing potential where others did not. The troop was made up mainly by serving members of 8/13 but did include some civilian members. Training and advice came from former light horsemen: Des Martin (8LH), Norm Whitehead (21LH), Bob Fyffe (20LH) and Fred Trickey (Riding Master RMC). Mannequin dressed in the uniform of a sergeant of the 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Light Horse Heritage Troopmilitary, light horse, heritage, vmr

Ferret Scout Car on road driving to display at Ettamogah 30 November 1991. .Crew commander : Corporal French; Driver Trooper Ray.military, scout car, display, fetrret

Three soldiers of A Squadron 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles with tent and M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier at display at Ettamogah 30 November 1991.military, vmr, display, army reserve

Dining room at Buna Barracks, Albury set for a formal dinner 9 November 1991.military, una barracks, albury, vmr

Ex-servicemen, former members of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles, marching in Dean Street Albury on Reserve Forces Day 4 July 1998. military, vmr, reserve forces, parade, albury

Early attempt to form regimental band took place in 1948, but it failed. This drum indicatesit was more successful later but it is not thought the band followed the regiment to NE Victoria in 1955. Possibly band members joined 4/19 Prince of Wales's Light Horse.Base drum with title around edge of skin "8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles"band, vmr, military, music, drum

Side drum painted in colours indication it is part of a set related to the base drum marked as 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles.military, music, band, regimental, vmr

Members of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Association marching in Albury. Reserve Forces Day Parade 4 July 1998.reserve forces, albury, parade, vmr, military

Staff - Sergeant Maurie Miles and WO 2 Lou Madjeric standing in Jeeps carrying guidons of 8th and 13th Light Horse, Reserve Forces Day Parade, Albury, 4 July 1998.reserve forces, parade, albury, guidon, military

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

Jeep carrying Major Reg McDermott ex 8/13 VMR followed by Major Robert Morrison leading Reserve Forces Day Parade, Albury, 4 July 1998,military, parade, reserve forces, jubilee

Framed print of Mounter Rifles Unit First Contingent Victoria.military, boer war, south africa, uniform, victorian

Framed print showing officers of the Second Contingent of Victorian Mounted Rifles to South Africa. The officers are: Colonel Tom Price, Captain Jenkins, Lieutenant Adjutant Lilley, Lieutenants Umphelby, Norton, Bree, Sergeant, Umphelby, Anderson and Kirby, military, south africa, boer war, vmr

Second Contingent Victorian Mounted Rifles commanded by Colonel Tom Price sailed for South Africa 13 January 1900.Framed print showing a section of the Victorian Second Contingent to the South African War 1899-1902.military, vmr, south africa, boer war, recruits, victoria, price

First Contingent Victorian Mounted Rifles sailed for South Africa 28 October 1899.Framed print showing seven officers of the First Contingent Victorian Mounted Rifles to the South African War 1899-1902. Officers are Lieutenants G C F Chomley, S T Staughton, J C Roberts, Captain (Medical Staff) W F Hopkins, Captain R W Salmon, Major D McLeish and Captain G F Thorn.military, vmr, south africa, boer war, victoria, uniform

Three jeeps carrying flag bearers holding guidons of 8th, 13th & 20th Light Horse, Reserve Forces Day parade Albury 4 July 1998.military - reserve forces - albury - guidons, military, reserve forces, albury, guidons, parade

WO 2 Bob Bauerle carrying guidon of 20th Light Horse in Reserve Forces Day Parade, Albury. 4 July 1998. Driver Brian Wilson.reserve forces, parade, albury, guidon, military

Large book with green cover and leather spine and corners used as minute book for 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Sergeants Mess between 1982 and 1992.military, vmr, minutes, mess, sergeant