When the First World War broke out, Australian men from all backgrounds and professions were called to serve their country.  Members of the Victorian Police force were some of the first to answer the call with twenty men joining the first convoy of soldiers who left Australian shores in October 1914. Over the course of four long years, one hundred and thirty-eight Victorian Police enlisted from stations across the state. Of these, twenty-seven lost their lives. Whilst the fate of each man was different, a deep commitment to protecting and serving the public was common to all. Victoria Police service: Joined 10/04/1911; Discharged 3/09/1914 WW1 service: Enlisted: 5 September 1914; Highest rank: Captain; Regiment: 4th Australian Light Horse Regiment; Fate: Returned to Australia 15th January 1919.Official documentworld war 1, 1914-1918; victoria police; trewin, charles lester gordon 5640

John Newnham embarked from Melbourne 10/5/1915 and returned on 21/5/1917. William left Melbourne on 25/2/1915 and returned on 3/7/1919. Sister Ada Newnham served with the Australian Army Nursing Service.WW1 letters and cards (approx. 100) sent to family by John Newnham (682 - 24th Battalion, C Company) and William Newnham (430 - 8th Light Horse Regiment, C Squadron) - letters mostly written by William. ww1, letters, 24 battalion, 8 light horse regiment, william james newnham, john edward newnham

Ben Boyd enlisted in the AIF in Melbourne, 13 December 1915, giving his age as 42 years and 11 months. At that time he gave Bathurst as parish of birth, and attested that his wife Emma, next of kin, resided in Fitzroy. He gave his occupation as 'cutter'. Boyd reported to Royal Park on 6 January 1916, attached to the 22nd Battalion 11th reinforcements. He embarked for the Middle East on 29 March, and it appears that he spent the rest of his service in Egypt, apart from some four months in Palestine from September 1917 to January 1918. During this time it appears that he was attached to the 11th Light Horse Regiment Provost Corps. There were various promotions to 'temporary Corporal' and 'Acting Sergeant'. Boyd disembarked in Australia on 25 August 1919. The first reference to Yackandandah in Boyd's war record came in his application for the British War Medal and Victory Medal, in a letter dated 10 February 1924. He received those medals on or about 3 March 1924. By that time he had been working in Yackandandah for several years, having been engaged as an 'up-tp-date cutter and tailor' by Mrs Haig in 1921. He continued working as a tailor until his passing in 1957. There is an anecdotal recollection of Boyd sitting up on what was the bank counter making garments and watching the world pass by on High Street, and also reference to him replying to the toast for The Diggers, at a smoke social convened by the Returned Services League to honour Sir Kenneth Beatty, at Martin's Hotel, 8 September 1927. The Yackandandah Museum is housed in what had been the Bank of Victoria and had become the business premises and residence of Haig Tailor. The building bore the title B. Boyd Tailor as late as the 1960's. Isabella Haig sold the building and residence to Yackandandah Historical Society in 1969. Instituted by King George V in 1919 to mark the end of World War I and record the service given, the British War Medal 1914-20, was also variously known as Squeak, or Mutt. Boyd was eligible for having entered a theatre of war during specified periods and having left places of residence and rendered approved service overseas. The medal is cupro-nickel (silver?) with the effigy of George V on the obverse. The reverse has an image of St George on horseback trampling underfoot the eagle shield of the Central Powers, and a skull and cross-bones, the emblems of death. Above this is the risen sun of victory. The years 1914 and 1918 are shown on the outside edge of the reverse surface. A ribbon is attached per a top bar. The ribbon has a wide central watered stripe of orange, flanked by two narrow white stripes, which are in turn flanked by two black pin-stripes, further flanked by two outer stripes of blue. (Refer Notes.) On the obverse, "GEORGIVS V BRITT. OMN: REX ET: IND: IMP" On the reverse "1914 1918" On the edge, stamped, "4378 A-SGT. B. BOYD. PROV. CPS. A.I.F."world war 1, great war 1914 - 1918, medals, british empire

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.Unique collection of photographs showing the first years of an armoured regiment of the post-Second World War era Citizen Military Forces showing equipment, uniforms, training and social activity and some personalities.Black and white photograph of 13 soldiers standing in front of truck. They are in khaki drill uniform, boots, web anklets, belts and berets.One of a collection of photographs of 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regiment between 1948 and 1951." D/S Conversion Course, Albury. 1. Doug Gibbs, 2. Tom Giles, 3. Ernie Grant, 4. Ian McKay, 5. Alan Vietch, 6. Ken Kotthoff, 7. Captain Reg McDermottvmr, uniform, training, mcdermott, mckie

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.Unique collection of photographs showing the first years of an armoured regiment of the post-Second World War era Citizen Military Forces showing equipment, uniforms, training and social activity and some personalities.Black and white photograph of a group of men, women and children at Buna Barracks, Albury. One of a collection of photographs of 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regiment between 1948 and 1951." Sgt's Mess Xmas Party 1. WO11 Ernie Grant, 2. Sgt. Bill Purcell. 3. Sgt. Davies "cmf, citizen soldiers, wives, children, albury, social

In 1961, 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was equipped with Humber trucks to fulfil an Armoured Personnel Carrier Role. A troop comprised 3 vehicles each with a 2 man crew, commanded by a sergeant.Collection of photographs showing an armoured regiment of the Citizen Forces in the 1960s as it transitioned from wheeled armoured vehicles to tanks to M113 armoured personal carriers.Black and white photograph of seven soldiers beside Humber truck." Cpl. Roberts, Sgt. Hartung, Tpr. Doyle, Tpr. McCluskey, Tpr. Vincent, Tpr. Cameron, Tpr. Madjeric, 2 Tp. "

In 1961, 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was equippedSergeant Peter Hartung, later Caprain with Humber trucks to fulfil an Armoured Personnel Carrier role. A troop comprised 3 vehicles, each with a 2 man crew, commanded by a Sergeant.Sargeant Peter Hartung, later Captain, served in WW2 with German Panzer Corps. Trooper lou Madjeric served with German Navy. After immigrating to Australia after the war they joined 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles. Collection of photographs showing an armoured regiment of the Citizen Forces in the 1960s as it transitioned from wheeled armoured vehicles to tanks to M113 armoured personal carriers.Black and white photograph of seven soldiers lined up in front of Humber trucks" Trooper Vincent, Corporal Roberts, Troopers McCluskey, Doyle, Cameron, Madjeric, Sgt. Hartung. "