White programme for a reception to meet his Excellency Admiral Shaimamura and the Officers of the Japanese Training Squadron. Given by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne and Mrs Henry Weedon. Black and red printing. On the front cover is an emblem with Acquirit vires eu?do under a shield with a cross, a ship, a whale and some animals. At the top is a dog? On each side is a fern branch. In the centre page is the programme of music conducted by W. D. Goodall. On the back of the page are two city scenes and on the back cover are the Union Jack and the Japanese Flags. Page and cover held together by a mustard ribbon. Reception held at the Town Hall, Melbourne on 14th May, 1906.military, navy, shimamura, reception to meet his excellency admiral shimamura programme, japanese training squadron, the lord mayor of melbourne and mrs henry weedon, w d goodall

The history of the No. 2 Independent Commando Company and 2/2 Commando Squadron during World War II – scarce as a 1st edition dated 1986. Having completed its training at Foster, on Wilson’s Promontory, Victoria, the 2nd Independent Company was raised and travelled north to Katherine, in the Northern Territory. However, following Japan’s entry into the war, as with the other independent companies that were sent to the islands off Australia, the 2nd was sent to Timor, where it joined the 2/40th Battalion and the rest of Sparrow Force. Sparrow Force divided itself between west Timor, part of the Netherlands East Indies, and east Timor, which belonged to Portugal. The 2/40th Battalion defended the capital of west Timor, Koepang, and the airfield at Penfui. Most of the independent company moved to the airfield at Dili, in east Timor, and the nearby mountains. Portugal was opposed to the stationing of a Dutch or Australian garrison in case this provoked the Japanese, but despite this opposition, on 17 December 1941, elements of the 2nd Independent Company and Dutch troops landed near Dili. On 20 February 1942 the Japanese invaded the island, attacking east and west Timor simultaneously. The 2/40th Battalion held out for three days, but were overrun and were killed or captured. Similarly, the 2nd could not hold the airfield and were also driven back. But they were not captured and instead retreated to the mountains where they conducted a very successful and pursued a guerrilla war against the Japanese which lasted for over a year. Following the capture of Timor, the 2nd occupation the company was listed as “missing”, the company’s signallers were able to build a wireless transmitter, nicknamed ‘Winnie the War Winner’, and on 18/19 April were able to contact Darwin. At the end of May RAN vessels began landing supplies for the Australians on the south coast of east Timor. These supply runs were very dangerous but they allowed the Australians on Timor to continue fighting. In September the guerillas were reinforced with the 2/4th Independent Company. However, this could not go on indefinitely. In August the Japanese lunched a major offensive against the guerrillas and Japanese reprisals against the civilian population of east Timor reduced their support for the Australians. The 2nd (now named the 2/2nd Independent Company) and 2/4th were withdrawn in December and January 1943 respectively. Although the 2/2nd Independent Company is best known for its time on Timor, it also saw extensive service in New Guinea and New Britain. The independent company reformed at the army’s training centre at Canungra, Queensland, where it was reinforced and reequipped. The company then moved to the Atherton Tableland, where it briefly became part of the 2/6th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment. Due to this reorganisation, in October, the 2/2nd Independent Company was renamed the 2/2nd Cavalry (Commando) Squadron. This name was later simplified to just commando squadron. When this happened though, the 2/2nd was back in action. In June 1943 the 2/2nd sailed from Townsville for Port Moresby and was subsequently flown to Bena Bena, in the Bismark Range in New Guinea’s highlands. Here they supported the 2/7th Independent Company in patrolling the Ramu River area. In the second week of July the 2/2nd moved into position, with its headquarters at Bena Bena and with its platoons’ occupying neighbouring positions. By the end of the month their patrols were skirmishing with the Japanese. The 2/2nd remained in New Guinea until October 1944. After 90 days leave, the squadron reformed at Strathpine in Queensland before sailing to New Britain in April 1945. The 2/2nd landed at Jacquinot Bay on 17 April. The squadron then moved to Wide Bay, in order to support the 13th Brigade of the 5th Division, and was based at Lamarien. Following Japan’s surrender and the end of the war, the ranks of the squadron thinned quickly as men were discharged or transferred to other units. For those who were left, they returned to Australia and in early 1946 the 2/2nd Commando Squadron was disbanded. Includes Nominal Roll Soft Cover without Dust Jacket – 270 pages

8th Light Horse conducted a training camp at Corowa Showground in September 1939. 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.Black and white photograph mounted on pineboard of B Squadron 8th {(Indi ) Australian Light Horse, Corowa 1939B Squadron Indi Light Horse, Corowa 1939light horse, corowa, military, cmf

Following outbreak of WW2 militia regiments including light horse were called up for full time training. The regiment was raised as 13th Light Horse (Gippsland), a Citizen Forces unit. following WWI, and trained as a cavalry regiment till August 1940, when it converted from horse to mechanised initially as 13th Motor Regiment then 13th Armoured Regiment. It trained in Victoria and, as the Japanese threat to the mainland declined, was disbanded in October 1943 with men going to other units.Black and white photograph mounted on card being 'C' Squadron 13th Light Horse in camp 1940 - 194113th, militia, light horse, wwii, world war two

The 1st Australian Armoured Car Squadron was raised at Puckapunyal, Victoria in January 1946 from 4th Armoured Brigade volunteers. Following two months training it deployed to Japan as part of the occupation force joining the Australian 34th Brigade. The squadron was equipped with Canadian Scout Cars and Staghound Armoured Cars. The latter were found to be unsuitable for patrol duties on Japanese roads and replaced with additional scout cars. The 1st Armoured Car Squadron returned to Australia in December 1948 and became the basis for the 1st Armoured Regiment. This object is well provenance and, in its condition and completeness, is a fine example of unusual headgear worn by Australian armoured corps soldiers in the immediate post-World War 2 (39-45) period.Khaki heavy cloth beret with 'Rising Sun' badge and colour patch of the 1st Australian Armoured Car Squadron.beret, 1st australian armoured car squadron, japan