The Tocumwal Troop was the most northerly sub-unit of the 20th Light Horse regiment. It was a highly successful troop in inter-troop competition and also provided the mounted escort to the new Governor of Victoria, Sir Winston Dugan, in July 1939. 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.Photocopy of a typed document, three pages, relating to Tocumwal Troop 20th Light Horse Regiment.tocumwal, 20th, light horse

Colonel Shannon DSO, VD., became the 1st President of the Wangaratta RSL in 1928 when it was organised under Anzac House and the present constitution. He was born at Bowman's Forest in 1874 and died in Wangaratta in 1960. He served in the Victorian Mounted Rifles at the turn of the century, rose to the rank of Captain and commanded the Wangaratta Detachment and Company - this later became the 8th Light Horse Regiment. In 1915 he embarked as Major in the 8th Light Horse and served in Gallipoli, Sinai, Palestine and Syria when he commanded the 8th Squadron. Later he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and commanded the Regiment. During the Amman raids, he was awarded the D.S.O at El Salt. This award was presented to him by the Duke of Clarence. In post war period he commanded the 8th Australian Light Horse and later as Colonel of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade During the second world war Colonel Shannon came out from retirement to organise the V.D.C in North East Victoria.The DSO medal is awarded for distinguished service during active operations against an enemy.Small rectangular black leather look covered timber box. Inside lid is lined in satin cloth and purple coloured velvet lines the base. Box contains a crimson ribbon with dark blue edges with a suspension bar and pin at the top and a lower suspension bar attached by a loop to a cross shaped medal made from white enamel. In the centre is the imperial crown in gold upon a red enamelled background surrounded by a laurel wreath. The reverse side depicts the royal cypherStamped on lid of presentation box - DSO Inside lid - Garrard & Co Ltd Goldsmiths and Jewellers to the King by special appointment Engraved on reverse of lower clasp - 8 LH Palestine wangaratta rsl, colonel shannon, dso, ww2, 8th light horse, ww1

Firsthand accounts of the unveiling of the Russell-Thomson Statuary in the GardensImportant in the History of Ballarat and in the adornment of the Botanical Gardens in the nineteenth century. The first newspaper article, p.2 from the Ballarat Star, 3/8/1888. The second article, 2 pages from the Ballarat Star, 4/8/1888. The third article, three pages from the Ballarat Courier, 4/8/18881st Article, 1st line underlined in green marker pen and bottom of page in biro and in green marker pen, 3/8/88. p.2. The 2nd Article, date and 1st line of the article underlined in green marker, no page number. the second page, 4/8/88. p.2 Star is written in biro and underlined in green vertically, left hand side of page with the 1st line of the article underlined. 3rd article, no markings. james russell thomson, statuary, unveiling ceremony, bequests, john garner collection, garner, dr, ballarat botanical gardens, gardens, ballarat, friends of the botanical gardens, nineteenth century, benefactors