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

This parade was held on the 75th Anniversary of Charge at Beersheba, World War OneTwo colour photographs of Colonel John Neale laying a wreath at the Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne, 31 October, 1992beersheba, charge, melbourne, neale, shrine

This parade was held on 75th Anniversary of Charge at Beersheba, World War One.Two colour photographs of Lieutenant Colonel B. Hoskin laying a wreath at the horse trough memorial at the Shrine, Melbourne, 31 October 1992.charge, melbourne, hoskin, beersheba, shrine

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 disbandedLarge silver cup presented to Wodonga Section 8th Light Horse winners of competition at Albury and Border P.A.& H Society Show 1937McCallum Whisky Trophy / Presented to Albury and Border P A & H Society / Won by Wodonga section / Cpl J A H McGeoch (Sec Ldr) / L/Cpl D Martin / Tpr F A Mitchell / Tpr E G Baumgarten / 1937military, light horse, show, albury, wodonga, mccallum

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.Slim, tapered cup with handles engraved on side. Won by Wodonga Troop 8th Light Horse at Albury Agricultural Show, 1939.Albury Show Society / McCallum Cup / 1939 / Military events / Won by Wodonga Team / Sgt Martin / Cpl Coleman / L/Cpl Mitchell / Tpr Treadrea / Tpr Watsonmilitary, sports, light horse, albury

This slouch hat was worn at the 75th Anniversary of Beersheba parade at the Australian War Memorial, 31 October 1992. VMR Squadron 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse provided the Honour Guard under the command of Captain Kelvin Robertson. It was the first occasion on which slouch hats and plumes were worn by the regiment. In 1992, all Corps in the Australian Army were ordered to wear slouch hats. This was a reaction to the high incidence of skin cancer in soldiers. Berets were thought to offer inadequate sun protection. Slouch hats were not practical in AFVs. Not all crewmen had access to helmets, so berets continued to be worn in vehicles. Slouch hats were worn for parade ground and general barracks work. RAAC acknowledged its Light Horse ancestry by wearing the emu plumes. Life continued in this way till 2010 when the wearing of berets was banned. Special Forces were exempt because it was argued they had a special relationship with the beret. Armoured Corps was outraged. Their relationship with the ‘black hat’ went back nearly a century. Submissions and argument ensued until the current workable arrangement was reached where a CO can authorize the wearing of berets but recognising that the slouch hat is the formal Australian Army head dress. Slouch hat with emu plumes and silver Victorian Mounted Rifles badge over and red backing on turned up side.military, hat, plumes, vmr, robertson

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.Two colour photographs of former Farrier Sergeant Merv ( Banjo ) Harris, 8th Cavalry regiment presenting his farriers tool kit to 8/13 VMR Museum 10 December 1989.