Geoffrey R Fink volunteered for military service in early 1940. He served initially with 3rd Division A.A.S.C. but was discharged as being in a reserved occupation at the Aircraft Production Commission. He resigned from the Commission and joined the AIF on 28 July 1941 and was allotted to 2/8th Armoured Regiment. He served with the regiment in New Guinea and on return to Australia was transferred to No 41 Landing Craft Company serving out the war in the South Pacific. 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.Representative of gifts made to old boys serving in WWII (1939-45) by a school association. Forms part of a comprehensive collection relating to one soldier.Leather pay book cover presented by Old Geelong Grammarians to VX 60307 Trooper Geoffrey Fink, 2/8th Armoured Regiment together with presentation certificate.Signatures on presentation certificate " Leigh Falkiner, J.S.Cook" and third signature unreadable.2/8th armoured regiment, 41 landing craft company, fink geoffrey r mr, old geelong grammarians

Sport was encourage among troops while training or resting behind the lines. The 8th Light Horse Regiment AIF was raised at Broadmeadows Victoria in September 1914 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander White and formed part of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade. The regiment served at Gallipoli where in a courageous but ill-fated charge at the Nek on 7 August 1915 it suffered horrendous casualties including Lieutenant Colonel White. Rebuilt in Egypt under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Maygar VC the regiment went on the serve throughout the Middle East Campaign. Colonel Maygar died of wounds at Beersheba when the regiment was attacked by enemy aircraft while waiting to follow up the successful charge of the 4th LH Brigade on 30 October 1917. The 8th Light Horse AIF was disbanded in 1919, but soon after re-raised as the 8th (Indi) Light Horse in the Citizen Military Forces, superseding 16th (Indi) Light Horse. It had its headquarters at Benalla with sub-units throughout the Upper Murray and Northeast Victoria. In December 1941, the regiment converted from horse to mechanised, initially as 8th Reconnaissance Battalion then in July 1942 it became 8th Cavalry Regiment and served in Northern Territory. As Japanese threat to the mainland declined the regiment was disbanded.Rare photograph of football team in Middle East WWIBlack and White photograph of soldiers in football gear with one officer being AFL team of 8th Light Horse Regimentmilitary, football, 8 alh, world war one, wwi, middle east

Vietnam War veteran An enthralling account of an Australian infantryman and his companions in the Vietnam War. On Friday 8th March 1968, 20-year-old Gary McKay lost the lottery. He was conscripted. From a comfortable and carefree life of surfing and rugby football, he was drafted into the deadly serious preparation for war in the jungles of South Vietnam. In Good Company is his story told in his own words. It begins with induction and selection for the officer academy for national servicemen at Scheyville, a six-month 'pressure cooker' course which produced second lieutenants ready to lead troops into action against the Viet Cong. It ends three and a half years later with a burst of NVA machine-gun fire during a battle among enemy-held bunkers in the hills of Nui Le. Here is a grass-roots account of the blood, sweat and tears shared by a rifle platoon in jungle warfare, a straightforward story of the fears and the camaraderie which soldiers experience in combat. Gary McKay fashioned this account from his experience in action, leading his platoon. The detail is provided from the 80 letters he wrote to his wife while he served. He wrote his story for the reader who wants to know what the soldier on the ground went through - in the fetid jungle, in battle. Anyone who wants to understand what service in South Vietnam meant to those who were there should read this book. 'Reading In Good Company leaves a vivid and disconcerting impression of how the Vietnam War smelt, felt and sounded. One of the most honest and affecting war memoirs which Australians have so far published.' - Mark Thomas, Canberra Times 'An enthralling, accurate account of infantry soldiering in the Vietnam era. Very readable; a must for those who have never experienced combat and a vivid reminder for all veterans.' - Major General M. P. Blake, AM, MC, former CO 5th Battalion RARGary John McKay MC (born 1947) is a writer and former Australian Army officer. He was awarded the Military Cross while serving with the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment during the Vietnam War.[1] He later served as Commanding Officer of 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment between 1988 and 1990Soft cover non fiction book

an historical look at military intelligence mishapsIn this controversial, eye-opening book, a long-serving professional military intelligence officer examines and analyzes the mistakes in military judgment that have resulted in some of the major catastrophes in the air, at sea, and on the battlefield since the crushing defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815. Colonel John Hughes-Wilson not only explores how events have conspired to cause disasters in modern military history but also demonstrates why -- and the reason more often than not lies in the failure of politicians and seasoned generals alike to understand and appreciate fully the value of crucial intelligence information. Hughes-Wilson shows how, for one instance, American bureaucratic bungling and inter-service rivalries collaborated with the Japanese in their devastating attack on Pearl Harbor -- despite the fact that the US was monitoring Japan's top-secret radio traffic -- and he reveals why, for another, the Viet Cong's Tet Offensive of 1968 took the world's most technologically advanced army completely by surprise. In Hitler's Berlin as in Saddam Hussein's Baghdad, this book discloses the lapses, errors, miscalculations, and under-estimations of military intelligence that have shaped our wars and defined our timessoft cover non fiction book

photoww2, officer, trench, aif, a.i.f, world war 1

photoww1, officer, world war 1, trench, aif, a.i.f

photoww1, aif, a.i.f, world war 1, trench, periscope

The 1/15 Royal New South Lancers and 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles were sister armoured corps regiments of the Citizen Military Forces, now Army Reserve, formed in 1948. Training and social contact between the regiments was frequent and gifts and presentations such as this plaque often occurred.representative of social interaction between regiemtns of the Citizen Military Forces.Wooden plaque with badge and motto of 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers Regiment at centre. Also plastic presentation plate attached. To / OFFICERS 8/13 VMR / from / OFFICERS 1/15 RNSWL [and on reverse of plaque in ink] Received Sep 81military, plaque, lancers, tenax in fide, officer, mess

Presented to 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles by Lieutenant Colonel M W L Fairless in recognition of his former regiment 9th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Fairless moved to Albury with his civilian employment and transferred to 8/13 VMR which he commanded 1965-1969.Representative of citizen soldiers transferring between regiments in consquence of relocation with their civilian employment.Wooden plaque with the badge and title of the 9th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment attached to it together with a presentation label.Presented by / Lt Col M W L Fairless EDmilitary, anti-aircraft, officer, plaque, artillery, fairless

Unusual example of social contact between officer of German Army and Victorian Mounted RiflesShallow metal dish with rim decoration of leaf motif. Emblem and engraving across centre of dish.To Col J Neale / Co 8/13 VMR / from / Lt Col G Tebbe / Co Pz Rgt 16panzer, germany, neale, military

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

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

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

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

Black card covered book used as Visitors Book at Officers' Mess 8/13 Victorian Moi=unted Rifles at Bapaume Barracks [Benalla] between 1959 and 1990.military, vmr, officer, visitor, mass

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

Black and white photograph of officers of 2nd Armoured Brigade at Government House Melbourne with HRH Prince Philip, March 1954.military, philip, 2nd armoured brigade, melbourne, royal visit

Black and white photograph of two RAEME officers inspecting a vehicle towing frame. At right Lieutenant Jim Farrelly 8/13 VMR Workshop Commander.military, vmr, raeme, towing

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

Major F Cobain was the last Officer Commanding (OC) 'A' Squadron 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles and the first OC VMR Squadron 4/19 Prince of Wales's Light Horse following the formation of the new regiment. On 1 April 1991, ‘A’ Squadron 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles linked with 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse Regiment to form a new regiment of two squadrons: VMR Squadron and PWLH Squadron. The 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse title was retained, but the VMR Squadron continued to wear the VMR hat badge.Black and white photograph of Major Fred Cobain, VMR Squadron 4/19 Prince of Wales's Light Horse, at Annual camp Puckapunyal September 1992.military, vmr, puckapunyal, training, uniform

The seated officer is probably Lieutenant Colonel Chisholm, Commanding officer of the 8th Light Horse (Indi) Regiment. Lieutenant McGeoch was Troop Leader the Wodonga Troop, and Lieutenant Wildsmith was Troop Leader Tallangatta Troop. The 8th Light Horse AIF was disbanded in 1919, but soon after re-raised as the 8th (Indi) Light Horse in the Citizen Military Forces, superseding 16th (Indi) Light Horse. It had its headquarters at Benalla with sub-units throughout the Upper Murray and Northeast Victoria. In December 1941, the regiment converted from horse to mechanised, initially as 8th Reconnaissance Battalion then in July 1942 it became 8th Cavalry Regiment and served in Northern Territory. As Japanese threat to the mainland declined the regiment was disbanded. Black and white photograph of three light horse officers standing behind a fourth officer seated. Photo is mounted on a backing card. Inscription under photo.Standing : Lt McGeoch, Lt Attree, Lt Welesmith (sic)military, light horse, 8 lh, indi, officer, mcgeoch, wildsmith, attree, militia

Both Charles Stenning and Reg McDermott had WW11 service. Post-war both served with 8/13 VMRColour photograph of two former officers of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles: Colonel Charles Stenning and Major Reg McDermott following parade at Buna Barracks, Albury, 29 April 1990.military, buna barracks, stenning, mcdermott, albury

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 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

10th Light Horse was located in Gippsland 1903--- 1912. It was then renumbered as 13th Light Horse.Wooden plaque with badge and engraved plate attached. Presented to 10th Light Horse Regiment (VMR) in 1907.Presented to the 10th Aust light Horse / by The Hon William Pearson MLC / Honorary Colonel / For annual competition by teams of 1 Officer and 13 Men. / 17 Oct 1907light horse, military, trophy, pearson, 10th

Assault troopers were part of a cavalry troop able to undertake dismounted tasks. Senior Officers were visiting the ciurse.Colour photograph of Major General Warren Glenny, Colonel John Neale and Sergeant Gary Wynd during Assault Trooper training course 8 - 23 May 1992.military, training, assault, vmr, glenny, neale, wynd

The 20th Light Horse (Victorian Mounted Rifles) was raised in 1920 as part of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, Citizen Military Forces, with Headquarters at Seymour and depots along the Goulburn Valley from Mansfield to Tocumwal in southern NSW. In December 1941, 20th Light Horse (Victorian Mounted Rifles) converted from horse to mechanised, initially as 20th Motor Regiment. In 1943 the Regiment was deployed to Merauke, Dutch New Guinea. Upon its return in April 1945, the Regiment was redesignated 20th Pioneer Battalion. It was disbanded following the end of the war. 20th Light Horse was the only light horse regiment to serve overseas in WWII.Silver plated tankard with handle, engraved with owners name on side.20th ALH / Officers' Mess / Lieut K Ross military, tankard, 20th, light horse, ross

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

16th Light Horse Regiment was raised in 1912 from former Light Horse units of Victorian Mounted Rifles, as part of reorganization of Commonwealth Military Forces ( Militia ) with troops in North East Victoria.Fine photograph of citizen soldiers immediately prior to WW1Black and white photograph mounted on card of an Officer and 36 soldiers posed in three ranks." B. Troop C Squadron 16th L. Horse , 5 - 8 14 " and Heath Beechworth "