Frederick Roberts was the son of Field Marshall Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts. At the age of 27 he went with the King's Rifles to the Second Boer War. During battle he, with two officers tried to assist and save guns when the detachments serving the guns had all become casualties or been driven away. While doing this Roberts fell badly wounded and 2 days later died. Commander-in-Chief Redvers Buller recommended Roberts for the Victoria Cross. Confirmation of the award made after his death. Roberts and his father were one of only three father son pairs to win the Victoria Cross. His father's was in 1858.Individual image from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards.frederick roberts, field marshall roberts, king's rifles, second boer war, redvers buller, south africa

White fought at the Battle of Charasiab and at the Battle of Kandahar in the Second Anglo-Afghan War. For his actions he was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1879. White became commander of the forces in Natal in 1899 at the opening of the Second Boer War and fought at the Battle of Elandslaagte. He withdrew to Ladysmith where he took command of the garrison during the Siege of Ladysmith. When his position there became untenable he was instructed by General Sir Redvers Buller to destroy the guns and surrender the garrison on the best terms he could. White insisted on staying and held out for another four months before being relieved in February 1900. For this he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George. Earlier he had been made Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. In 1903 he was promoted to Field Marshall. White received many awards for his service to his country. They include the Victoria Cross (1879); Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (1893); Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (1897); Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (1898); Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (1900); Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (1900); Order of Merit (1905). He also received the Indian Mutiny Medal; Afghanistan Medal; Kabul to Kandahar Star; Egypt Medal (1885); India General Service Medal (1885-87); Queen's South Africa Medal - Defence of Ladysmith; Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal; King Edward VII Coronation Medal; King George V Coronation Medal; Khedive's Star. Sir George Stuart White's medal and honours are displayed at the Gordon Highlanders Museum. Individual image from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards.george stuart white, battle of charasiab, battle of kandahar, second anglo-afghan war, victoria cross, natal, second boer war, battle of elandslaagte, kadysmith, siege of ladysmith, general sir redvers buller, knight grand cross of the order of st michael and st george, knight grand cross of the royal victorian order, field marshall, knight grand commander of the order of the indian empire, order of merit, indian mutiny medal, afghanistan medal, kabul to kandahar star, egypt medal, indian general service medal, queen's south africa medal, queen victoria diamond jubilee medal, king edward vii coronation medal, king george v coronation medal, khedive star, gordon highlanders museum

During the Second Boer War Major D Hall states that the Liddite shells often failed to detonate; the gun was too heavy to be used as a field howitzer, and for siege use its range was too short and shell too light. However, it achieved some success in Natal when able to get close enough to bombard Boers in trenches.Individual image taken from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards.second boer war, major hall, liddite shell

Attached to his R.S.L. Membership Card along with the funeral notice, is a subsequent newspaper article written at the time of Walter West's death, which reads: Death of Pioneer Settler/ A pioneer settler of/ the Red Cliffs irigation/ district and one of the/ last men to be evacuated/ from Gallipoli, died sud/denly on Saturday night/ aged 84./ In 1922 Mr. Watler Thomas/ West came to Red Cliffs/ where he established Block/ 86 in the irrigation district./ He lived there until his/ death on Saturday after playing bowls at the Red/ Cliffs rinks on Saturday/ afternoon./ Mr. West was born in Jeparit and served with the/ 24th Battalion in Egypt and/ Gallipoli./ He was awarded the Mili/tary Medal in France in/ 1917 and the Military Cross/ in 1918 when he captured/ single handed an enemy/ machine gun post./ He settled at Red Cliffs/ on his return when the/ area was placed under irri-/gation./ For 25 years he operated/ a unique partnership with/ the late Mr. Martin Nippe, his adjoining property/ owner. The pair pooled their/ horticultural equipment for/ joint use./ Mr. West joined Mildura/ Legacy in 1942 and was an/ active member until his/ death./ The funeral will be held at the United Church, Red/ Cliffs this morning at 10.30Type written obituary, presumably used when Walter West,MC,MM, died.Walter West MC,MM/ Red Cliffs residents were saddened to learn of the sudden passing on Saturday last/ of Walter Thomas West MC,MM., a Pioneer/settler and well respected citizen./ "Wal" as he was affectionately known, was/ born at Dandenong some 84years ago./ He served with distinction in World War 1/ with 24th Battalion. He was an original ANZAC, and also saw service in/ Egypt and France. He received two awards for gallantry in the field - The Military/ Medal in France 1917 and the Military Cross in France/ in 1918 when he was responsible for the/ single handed capture of an enemy gun and crew./ He was an original soldier settler and developed/ his fruit block in Red Cliffs which is still/ operated by his son Tom. In 1922 he/ became an original Trustie of the Methodist/Church and was the last surviving original/ Trustie. He served on the Board of/ directors of the Red Cliffs Co-Operative Co.Ltd/ from 1954 to 1967, and was Chairman of Directors/ in 1963 and 1964. He showed a keen interest/ in youth activities and some excellent cricketers/ were produced as a result of his coaching of/ the Methodist Junior Cricket Team. He was an/ active and keen member of Mildura Legacy/ for 34 years, serving as President in 1947 and 1948./ He was secretary of the Cemetary Trust for many years, served on the Hospital Committee/ was a member of Memorial Lodge, a member of Red Cliffs Senior Citizens Club and a /member of Red Cliffs Sub-Branch R.S.L. since / it's inception./ He was a keen member of the Red Cliffs/ Bowling Club and took part in a club event on/ the day of his passing./ It was the pioneer settler and men with ability/ and initiative of Walter West that brought/ out the Community Spirit which resulted in/ the Red Cliffs we know today.1918, 1917, ww1, walter, thomas, west, mm, mc, 24th, battalion, aif, gallipoli, bullecourt

non-fictionThe comprehensive history of the 6th Australian Division Cavalry Commandos – a (now out of print) reprint of one of the rarer Armoured unit history books. This is the story of one of Australia’s most famous fighting regiments during World War II. As an armoured cavalry unit it fought the Italians and Germans in the sands of the African desert and the Vichy French in the mountains of Syria. Later as a dismounted commando unit it fought the Japanese in the terrifying jungles of New Guinea. The heroism of the men in its ranks and the actions in which they engaged are portrayed in a way which makes battle deeds leap realistically from the pages. “To The Green Fields Beyond” is a documented and detailed book which is of value to everyone who is interested in Australia’s story. Seldom before has such a contribution been made to record of our national history. The book has been approved and sponsored by the Australian War Memorial. The 6th Division Cavalry Regiment was formed in November 1939 and, just two months later, was sent overseas to the Middle East in January 1940. Arriving in Egypt, the regiment immediately went to Palestine, where it joined the rest of the 6th Division and trained using machine-gun carriers and, from October, six old Vickers light tanks. At the end of the year the regiment moved into the Western Desert, where it joined British forces ready for the major offensive to commence on 9 December. Two days later the regiment became the first unit of the 2nd Australian Imperial Force (AIF) to go into action when one of its squadron fought a sharp action against the Italians holding Garn el Grein and Fort Maddalina on 11 and 12 December. By 21 December British forces had captured Sidi Barrrani and the desert was now open for the 6th Division’s advance along the Libyan coast. On 3 January 1941 the division attacked and captured the Italian fort of Bardia. The regiment’s A Squadron, under the command of Major Denzil Macarthur-Onslow, who went on to command the 4th Armoured Brigade, supported the attack. Tobruk was the next Italian fort to be captured, with the regiment again in support and covering the 19th Brigade’s advance. The regiment, though, was under-equipped and without its full compliment of vehicles, using only machine gun carriers. To compensate for this, A Squadron was parity re-equipped with captured Italian light tanks, which had large kangaroos painted on the hulls and turrets to distinguish them from enemy vehicles. After Tobruk, the regiment was used as part of the advance guard in the capture of Derna and then Benghazi. In April the unit moved to Helwan, where it was equipped with Vickers light tanks and machine-gun carriers, and operated with British troops in capturing Sollum. Towards the end of May the regiment moved to Palestine, where it came under the command of the 7th Division for the imminent invasion of Syria. The regiment experienced its heaviest fighting during the Syrian campaign, which began on 7 June. A Squadron was attached to the 21st Brigade and advanced along the coast, where the rugged hills made it difficult to manoeuvre the tanks and carriers. The squadron was relieved by one of the 9th Division Cavalry Regiment’s squadrons on 13 and 14 June. C Squadron, meanwhile, was with the 25th Brigade, and advanced along the Rosh Pinna road, engaging strong enemy defences at Fort Khirbe. C Squadron was relieved by B Squadron, which was later attacked by Vichy French tanks that were supported by heavy artillery and machine-gun fire, which forced the Australians to withdrawal. Always willing or needing to improvise during the campaign, A and B Squadrons both operated three captured French R35 Renault light tanks, while C Squadron provided personnel for a horse troop, quickly nicknamed the “Kelly Gang”, to patrol the high, rugged hills near the Mardjayoun–Banis Road. The regiment remained in Syria as part of the occupation force and returned to Australia in March 1942. It was sent to the Adelaide River, in the Northern Territory, and then later to Murgon, in Queensland. In 1943 and 1944 divisional cavalry regiments were reorganised into cavalry (commando) regiments. In January 1944 the 6th Division Cavalry Regiment became the 2/6th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment. The regiment lost its vehicles and became the administrative headquarters for the 2/7th, 2/9th, and 2/10th Commando Squadrons. The regiment remained with the 6th Division and participated in the Aitpae–Wewak campaign, in New Guinea, during 1945. Includes Nominal Rollww2, australian commandos, australian special forces, world war 2

1916 William Henry Thomas of Keys Road , South Brighton (now Moorabbin ) in WW 1 1914 -1918 1st AIF uniform. William was born in 1894 , Christened at the Wesleyan Church. (Methodist), Wickham Road, South Brighton and attended Moorabbin State School. . Private Thomas was a market gardener in Moorabbin prior to his enlistment in the Australian Imperial Force on 19 July 1915. Both his parents wrote separate letters giving their consent for their son to serve overseas due to " the pressing request of my son William Henry, also the urgent need of recruits do give my consent that he shall go to the front." September 29th 1915 he left Australia with the 5th Reinforcements of the 24th Battalion for Egypt. March 1916 he was hospitalised with Mumps and shortly after left Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force for France where he transferred to the 6th Australian Machine Gun Company.. Whilst on leave in England he received medical attention before returning to France and 13 November 1918 he spent a week in the care of the 7rh Field Ambulance suffering with influenza . Private Thomas returned to Australia on the hospital transport Castalia 13 April 1919 and his enlistment was terminated 26 September 1919Private William Henry Thomas and his family are examples of the patriotism exhibited by the market gardeners, and indeed throughout Australia, during the World War 1 1914-1918. Photograph is black and white. William Henry Thomas is standing straight and tall in the centre of the photograph, looking directly at the photographer while holding a weapon in his right hand. He is in his military uniform (WW1) .Front of Mount : Ainor Studio Auburn Back of Mount : William Henry Thomas / 1st World War 1916 / Keys Rd., Moorabbin / Born 1894 / Christened at Wesleyan ( Methodist ) Church / Wickham Rd., / South Brighton / now Uniting Church unsigned undatedwilliam henry thomas, 1916, 1894, first ww, world war one, uniform, wickham road, south brighton, moorabbin, world war 1 1914- 1918, thomas street,early settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, australian infantry force, soldiers, key's cup, victorian war memorials, cheltenham, mckinnon,, keys road moorabbin, ss castalia, british expeditionary force ww1 1914- 1918, 24th battalion 1st aif, 6th australian machine gun company 1st aif, influenza epidemic 1919, alexandria egypt, methodist church,

Colour photographic print in tan timber frame and musk coloured mat. Photograph depicts two field artillary weapons set up surrounded by sandbag perimeter.Personnel working on one of the guns. Background is bush, and a shelter with metal roof to left of picture.My Vietnam Collection Waiting for orders -105 Field Battery. Vietnam 1969 Copyright Jed Robinson.Gift Horse Gallery - Original works by local & interstate artists and crafts people.photograph, 105 field battery

Guntruck escort vehicle and stores truck next to paddy field. Crew appear to be buying refreshments from local villagers. Stores truck is a POL (petrol, oil and lubricants) truck towing a fuel trailer. A wrecked jeep is on the side of the field. Junk dog truck has four machine guns mounted to protect the stores truck.Gun truck bears the name JunkDog. White US stars on the POL truckalso says USA.junk dog, gun truck, diorama

Ill, p.40non-fictionIllustrative and textual description of Australian field artillery 1939-1945military weapons - australia, weapons - australia

Postcard, WW1, B&W image of a captured German gun in an open field between Morcourt and Warfusee. Painted on the barrel are the words 'AIF No2' Copy G25postcard, postcard, ww1, german gun, morcourt, warfusee, france

Postcard, WW1, B&W image of a group of captured German guns in a field at Longeau near Amiens. A large building in background. Copy A 38postcard, postcard, ww1, german guns, longeau, amiens

The HMAT A18 Wiltshire (1912-1922) weighed 10,390 tons with an average cruise speed of 13.5 knots or 25.00 kmph. Described as a refrigerated steamship it was b uilt 1912 by John Brown, Clydebank for the Federal S N Co Ltd, London and was propelled by a twin screw, quadruple expansion engine 2 x 4 cylinders each 6500 hp. Owned by the Commonwealth & Dominion Line Ltd, London, it was leased by the Commonwealth until 2 October 1917. It embarked from Egypt on 2 February 1918. On 18 October 1914 at Melbourne embarked the 4th Light Horse Regiment (Victoria) A, B & C squadron & their Machine Gun Section, the 2nd Field Ambulance (Victoria) First Division. The disembarked the 4th Light Horse Regiment in Egypt on 10 December 1914. On 01 November 1914 The Wiltshire assembled with the first convoy at King George's Sound, Albany Western Australia in transporting the first detachment of the Australian and New Zealand Imperial Expeditionary Forces. It completed nine transport voyages from Australia commencing 18 October 1914 until final voyage from Sydney 9th November 1918. During that time The Wiltshire carried the 4th Field Artillery Brigade (Victoria) 2nd Division Artillery and their 1st Reinforcements, 1st Division Ammunition Column 1st Division Artillery 4th Reinforcements, thirty-four Infantry Battalion Reinforcements, the 10th, 11th & 12th Field Artillery Battery (Victoria) 4th Field Artillery Brigades, the 4th Brigade Ammunition Column 4th Field Artillery Brigade, the 1st Siege Artillery Brigade 15th Reinforcements, the 4th Light Horse Regiment (Victoria) A, B & C squadron & their Machine Gun Section, six Light Horse Brigade Reinforcements, the 1st Veterinary Section (New South Wales) 11th Reinforcements, the 1st Mobile Veterinary Section (New South Wales) 1st Division 11th Reinforcements, the 2nd Mobile Veterinary Section (Victoria, New South Wales) 2nd Division 11th Reinforcements, the 1st Cyclist Battalion (New South Wales and Queensland) 3rd Reinforcements, the 2nd Field Ambulance (Victoria) First Division & Medical Officers. After the conclusion of World War One is was wrecked Rosalie Bay, Great Barrier Island New Zealand 31 May 1922 on passage London for Dunedin. Onboard was a crew of 103 plus 1 stowaway, and 10,000 ton of general cargo. No lives lost and is now a well frequented 'Dive' wrecksite. (http://www.flotilla-australia.com/hmat.htm#A18)Photographic postcard of the troopship Wiltshire out at sea.world war one, world war, wiltshire, troop ship, mmm

Vietnam War Troops of the 1st Australian Armoured Regiment during a briefing at Vung Tau In 1967, the Royal Australian Armoured Corps' (RAAC), 1st Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) Squadron transferred to "A" Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment Vietnam. Although they successfully conducted combat operations in their areas of operation(s) (AOs), reports from the field stated that their light-armour (M-113 ACAVs) were unable to force their way through dense jungle[15] limiting their offensive actions against enemy forces. The Australian government, under criticism from Parliament, decided to send a Squadron of Australian Centurion tanks to South Vietnam.[15] The 84 mm-gunned[16] Australian Centurions of 'C' Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment landed in the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) on 24 February 1968, and were headquartered at Nui Dat in III Corps (MR3).[17] 52 Ton main battle TankARN Number 169090 and tacsign 106tank armoured vietnam centurion mbt

25pdr Artillery gunSerial No 5594artillery gun / field gun

105mm L5 Pack Howitzer: field artillery piece.nilhowitzers, field gun, artillery, pack howitzer, l5

Plastic fawn coloured wood grain framed colour photo of six soldiers relaxing on ammo boxes and sand bags in gun pitA Field Battery FSB Ziggie May 1971 "Charles Gun and Visitors"a field battery, fsb ziggie, sgt al green, gnr george mulder, gnr david gibson, gnr neil smith, gnr gordon bright, gnr bruce ping kee

Two soldiers - LBDE Richard Smidt & GNR Bernie McBaron firing in support of 3AR - Op Briar Patch 11. Seated on a 105mm Howitzer gun with a sign "Charles for Gentlemen Only"photograph, 3 rar, mcbaron, smidt

Mr. Adde Andress Matiess John COOPER was a WW1 soldier from Chiltern and served with the 21st Battalion. He enlisted in 1916 at 21 years of age. He had previous experience pre WW1 in the local based Militia Unit at Chiltern. He was awarded the Military Medal for Bravery in the Field whilst in France on the 3/4/1917. He was wounded in France with a gun shot wound to the upper left arm. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Cooper. He then went on to serve after WW1 with the local based Militia unit (44BN) and was appointed as the Officer in Charge at the rank of Captain. His employment prior to WW1 was that of a Sleeper Cutter for the railway. Black and white photograph of WW1 Soldier in uniform, being Adde Cooper Service Number 5002, Chiltern Resident. attached to the back of the photograph is a piece of paper with the description - Mr. Adde Cooper 1st World War Later Captain Chiltern Branch Victorian Defence Corps. ww1, military medal, adde cooper

THE CANNON HAS BEEN RESTORED AND IS EXHIBITED IN THIS MUSEUM IN RIVETT H. BLAND ROOMBLACK & WHITE PHOTOGRAPH THE OLD CANNON GUN DATED 1847 HAS CROWN STAMPED ON IT - PROBABLY BRITISH SAID MR.J.R. BLAIR WHO PRESENTED THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE CANNON. THE CANNON HAS BEEN PHOTOGRAPHED IN A SHADOW AND IS INDISTINCT. PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN FROM GUN OVERLOOKING THE SPORTS FIELD.local history, photography, photographs, civic mementos

Presented to the Major The Honorable F. T. Sargood together with the V.R.A. Challenge Cup on 8 December 1876. The cup was competed for by all the volunteer corps in Victoria. The following extract is from The Argus (Melb), Sat 9 Dec 1876, page 9 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5912315 The second quarterly official inspection of the St Kilda Battery was held last night by Colonel Anderson. The gun drill was held in the orderly-room, and afterwards the corps was put through field movements in the drill around. At the termination of the inspection Colonel Anderson expressed his satisfaction at the manner in which the drill had been performed. Colonel Anderson then presented Major Sargood with the Victorian Rifle Association Challenge Cap, which had been won by the St. Kilda Battery three times. The cup has been competed for the last 12 years, and in that time the cost of the ammunition used in the contest and markers' fees amounted to about £3.000. The value of the cup is 20 guineas. An address to Major Sargood was then read by Captain Hearn. On receiving the cup Major Sargood said that he was afraid from the state of his health he would either have to retire from command of the battery, or obtain a long leave of absence. He said that six years ago he bad been presented with a sword which he wore that evening, and he was glad to see that there was no diminution of the goodwill then expressed towards him. Red leather folder lined with ecru coloured watered silk containing a illuminated copy of the address on the presentation of the V.R.A. Challenge Cup to Major The Honorable F. T. Sargood. The cover has a gilt decorated embossing around its border and gilt text.On front: "ADDRESS TO MAJOR THE HON. F. T. SARGOOD." "ST KILDA BATTERY" "R.V.V.A."rippon lea, sargood, frederick thomas, sir

Folding Wallet Camouflage Canvas with Velcro strap. Pockets inside the wallet containing -Dept. of Defence Message Notebook OC 076)-Armoured Fighting Vehicle Driving Licence May Scott Andrew Army No 8508114 - 3 x Range record -AFV Range Card (OWR 38) Gun/Target Information.- RAAC Commanders Card (OWG 136)Refer Physical Destription

As the White Ensign was reserved entirely for the use of the Royal Navy, the Admiral decided to approve of a new ensign for the Victorian Navy and this was flown for the first time from Nelson on 9th March 1870. The new ensign was very similar to the present day national flag and incorporated the Union flag with five white stars on a blue field.Following upon a series of ‘Russian scares’ in the 1870s, Nelson presumably by permission of the Admiralty, was converted into a fighting ship for the Victorian Navy; she was cut down to a single- decker, the fore and mizzen masts were removed, and the armament modified by the landing of several of the old muzzle-loaders and the addition of a number of new breech-loading guns. This conversion was carried out in the new drydock in 1881.A framed copy of an engraving entitled: 'Opening of the Graving Dock, Williamstown'.Opening of the Graving Dock, Williamstownhmvs nelson, alfred graving dock, williamstown

105mm Howitzermodel, ww2, army

four photos on a page from an albumww1, world war 1, captured, taube, field kitchens, german, gaza, naval gun

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

Us manufactured Browning machine guns were introduced to Australian Army in 1950s.The. 30 calibre replaced 7.92 mm Besa in Centurion tanks equipping 8/13 VMR in 1957. The. 50 calibre was mounted on some M113 carriers as Commanders MG. Representative of Training booklets issued to CMF units in the 1960sLightbrown covered booklet Browning Machine Gun Caliber .50HB, M2. Department of the Army Field Manual FM 23 - 65. December 1955

The first British designed and made Centurion tanks arrived in Australia in June 1952. The first tanks went to the 1st Armoured Regiment, but as more tanks became available armoured regiments of the Citizen Military Forces received replacements for their aging General Grant tanks. The Centurion was a great improvement on the Grant with a bigger gun and the ability to fire accurately while moving. Serving soldiers of regiments such as 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles were converted to the new tank and National Servicemen received full-time training while at Puckapunyal. In February 1968, C Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment, equipped with Centurion tanks was sent to Vietnam. This tank No 169073 was one of the twenty tanks which served in Vietnam. There were many doubters about the likely usefulness of the Centurion in the jungle and paddy field environment of South Vietnam. How would this very large tank perform? No one needed to have worried. The tanks performed magnificently and were treasured by the infantry with whom they operated. ‘Tanks save lives’ was the catchcry. Several Reserve officers were attached to the Squadron in Vietnam including Colonel John Neale and Major Gordon Cole. Following the Australian withdrawal, the tanks were refurbished and issued to Army Reserve regiments for training. Our tank was allocated to 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles. Together with the tanks came a crop of Regular Army Cadre staff and training reached a new peak. When the Centurion was superseded by the Leopard surplus vehicles were allocated to museums and regimental collections as trophy vehicles. Black and white photograph of Centurion Tank No. 169073 at Buna Barracks, Albury, home of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles 1988.centurion, tank, buna barracks, albury, vmr

The crowd are gathered around the former Rupertswood gun which originally was a piece of field equipment used by the Rupertswood Battery. The Clarke family eventually gave it the the residents of Sunbury. Today it is encased in a special glass case and displayed opposite the Sunbury Memorial Hall on the Village Green.A black and white photograph of a crowd of people seated around a large gun in an open area.rupertswood battery, rupertswood gun