In 1988, as part of a Defence of Mainland Australian policy, defence of facilities of strategic importance in northern Australia were allocated to Army Reserve units. ‘A’ Squadron was allocated the defence of Tindal Air Force base located 15 KM outside Katherine in Northern Territory. Consequently the Squadron deployed on Exercise ‘Northern Explorer’ to gain first-hand knowledge of operating conditions for mounted and dismounted patrolling in the area.Colour photograph of Captain C. Carrington, earing hat, and Sergeant Koschel of ' A ' Squadron 8/13 VMR during Exercise " Northern Explorer." Flood debris caught high in tree branches indicate water level during wet season on Ferguson River, Northern Territory.

In 1988, as part of a Defence of Mainland Australian policy, defence of facilities of strategic importance in northern Australia were allocated to Army Reserve units. ‘A’ Squadron was allocated the defence of Tindal Air Force base located 15 KM outside Katherine in Northern Territory. Consequently the Squadron deployed on Exercise ‘Northern Explorer’ to gain first-hand knowledge of operating conditions for mounted and dismounted patrolling in the area.Colour photograph of Captain C. Carrington sheltering from 41o sun during Exercise " Northern Explorer."

In 1988, as part of a Defence of Mainland Australian policy, defence of facilities of strategic importance in northern Australia were allocated to Army Reserve units. ‘A’ Squadron was allocated the defence of Tindal Air Force base located 15 KM outside Katherine in Northern Territory. Consequently the Squadron deployed on Exercise ‘Northern Explorer’ to gain first-hand knowledge of operating conditions for mounted and dismounted patrolling in the area.Colour photograph of Lance Corporal R. Van. De Velde picking native figs on bank of Ferguson River, Northern Territory during Exercise "Northern Explorer." Soldiers of ' A ' Squadron 8/13 VMR had received instruction of bush food by Major Les Hiddens aka ' The Bush Tucker Man. '100 mm x 100 mm

In 1988, as part of a Defence of Mainland Australian policy, defence of facilities of strategic importance in northern Australia were allocated to Army Reserve units. ‘A’ Squadron was allocated the defence of Tindal Air Force base located 15 KM outside Katherine in Northern Territory. Consequently the Squadron deployed on Exercise ‘Northern Explorer’ to gain first-hand knowledge of operating conditions for mounted and dismounted patrolling in the area.Colour photograph of four members of a vehicle patrol of ' A ' Squadron 8/13 VMR at Ferguson River, Northern Territory, during Exercise 'Northern Explorer."

In 1988, as part of a Defence of Mainland Australian policy, defence of facilities of strategic importance in northern Australia were allocated to Army Reserve units. ‘A’ Squadron was allocated the defence of Tindal Air Force base located 15 KM outside Katherine in Northern Territory. Consequently the Squadron deployed on Exercise ‘Northern Explorer’ to gain first-hand knowledge of operating conditions for mounted and dismounted patrolling in the area.Colour photograph of vehicle patrol of ' A " Squadron 8/13 VMR accessing the viability of a crossing point of Ferguson River during Exercise ' Northern Explorer. The patrol decided the Armoured Personnel carrier could descend the shale bank but not climb out again.

In 1988, as part of a Defence of Mainland Australian policy, defence of facilities of strategic importance in northern Australia were allocated to Army Reserve units. ‘A’ Squadron was allocated the defence of Tindal Air Force base located 15 KM outside Katherine in Northern Territory. Consequently the Squadron deployed on Exercise ‘Northern Explorer’ to gain first-hand knowledge of operating conditions for mounted and dismounted patrolling in the area.Colour photograph of two soldiers of ' A ' Squadron 8/13 VMR during Exercise ' Northern Explorer '. Trooper Pratt and Lance Corporal Van De Valde demonstrate how the F2 radio set could be carried. In addition the men would have webbing, pack and rifle to carry.

In 1988, as part of a Defence of Mainland Australian policy, defence of facilities of strategic importance in northern Australia were allocated to Army Reserve units. ‘A’ Squadron was allocated the defence of Tindal Air Force base located 15 KM outside Katherine in Northern Territory. Consequently the Squadron deployed on Exercise ‘Northern Explorer’ to gain first-hand knowledge of operating conditions for mounted and dismounted patrolling in the area.Rare example of a patrol report conducted by soldiers of a Victorian Army Reserve regiment while exercising in Northern Territory.Report of reconnaissance patrol conducted by soldiers of 'A' Squadron 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles during Exercise 'Northern Explorer, Northern Territory. 13 pages plus sketch map.

In 1988, as part of a Defence of Mainland Australian policy, defence of facilities of strategic importance in northern Australia were allocated to Army Reserve units. ‘A’ Squadron was allocated the defence of Tindal Air Force base located 15 KM outside Katherine in Northern Territory. Consequently the Squadron deployed on Exercise ‘Northern Explorer’ to gain first-hand knowledge of operating conditions for mounted and dismounted patrolling in the area.Rare patrol report made by soldiers of a Victorian regiment while on exercise in Northern Territory.Report of patrol carried out by soldiers of 'A' Squadron 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles 18 September 1988 near Tindal Air Base Northern Territory. Six pages plus sketch map.military, patrol, tindal, northern territory, vmr

Members of the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) were posted to Army Reserve units in the 1980s and 1990s. They were rarely posted to Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) but were invaluable in the A1 Echelon driving fuel, ammunition, ration and water supply vehicles. Colour photograph of two WRAAC soldiers of 'A' Squadron 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles serving a meal from a BBQ set up on back of truck in A1 Echelon during field training. Private L. Cameron at left ; Private T. Roche, right.

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.Members of the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) were posted to Army Reserve units in the 1980s and 1990s. They were rarely posted to Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) but were invaluable in the A1 Echelon driving fuel, ammunition, ration and water supply vehicles. Colour photograph of soldiers of ' A ' squadron 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles on parade at Buna Barracks Albury 1986. Sergeant D. Reynolds ( WRAAC ) at left; Corporal B. Lewis at right.

While many recruits could already drive when they joined 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles it took many hours of instruction and training before they were licenced to drive heavier, more complex army vehicles both on and off road and under combat conditions.Members of the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) were posted to Army Reserve units in the 1980s and 1990s. They were rarely posted to Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) but were invaluable in the A1 Echelon driving fuel, ammunition, ration and water supply vehicles. Shows citizen soldiers on weekend training.Colour photograph of 4 soldiers of ' A ' Squadron 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles at a road side break during a driving exercise, 1986. From left : Corporal M. Roberts, Private T. Roche, Corporal Tewson and Trooper Bowerman.military, citizen soldiers, vmr, uniform

While many recruits could already drive when they joined 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles it took many hours of instruction and training before they were licenced to drive heavier, more complex army vehicles both on and off road and under combat conditions. Members of the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) were posted to Army Reserve units in the 1980s and 1990s. They were rarely posted to Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) but were invaluable in the A1 Echelon driving fuel, ammunition, ration and water supply vehicles. Two colour photographs of group of soldiers of ' A ' Squadron 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles at a meal break during a driving exercise, 1986. Considerable variation in dress and headgear. Green beret at left, Sergeant D. Reynolds; hat Private T. Roche; Black beret Sergeant H. Wilson; no hat Corporal M. Roberts ; peak Cap with badge Warrant Officer 2 Burnie; Peak cap Corporal Potts.

Standard issue blocked brown leather rifle bucket for attachment to the Pattern 1912 UP saddle. Rifle buckets were used by British and Commonwealth mounted troops from the First World War to around 1941. In the Australian Light Horse units their use did not become common until the end of the First World War. Prior to this rifles were carried slung across the rider's back.light horse, 1941, rifle bucket, pattern 1912 up saddle

Significant Historical. The Australian Light Horse was a skilled formation of mounted infantry of the Australian Imperial Force. (A.I.F.) The men fought at Gallipoli (without their horse's) and mostly served in Egypt and the Middle East. The unit contributed to the Allied victory against the Ottoman Empire in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign.This uniform belonged to Sergeant Victor Royston Smith #1004. 4th Australian Light Horse Regiment 1st A.I.F. Sailed from Sydney 21st January 1915. Landed Gallipoli 1st October 1915. Rode with his Regiment in the charge at Beersheba in Palestine on 31st October 1917. Returned to Australia on the 2nd August 1919.Full Khaki Light Horse Uniform.