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.Framed black and white photograph of a Light Horse Regiment parading on beach at Torquay Victorian 1938.20th Light Horse on parade Torquay beach, 1938military, 20th, light horse, torquay

Single fold card being Order of Service for the presentation of new Guidon of 4th Light Horse Regiment to 4/19 Prince of Wales Light Horse at Melbourne 6th October 1963. Badly water damaged. guidon, 4th light horse, parade

The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948. It was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse in 1991 forming the VMR Squadron of the regiment. Captain Kel Robertson commanded the guard. It was the first occasion at which the squadron wore slouch hats in lieu of berets.Good photograph of Army Reserve unit on parade on a significant day for Australian Light Horse.Framed coloured photograph of gaurd drawn from Victorian Mounted Rifles Squadron 4/19 Prince of Wales's Light Horse drawn up at the Beersheba Day parade at the Australian War Memorial 31 October 1992.On plaque at bottom centre of frame: "VMR Sqn Beersheba Pde 31 October 92. Presented to Maygar Club Albury by Cpl AH Collins Dec 92"vmr squadron, 4th/19th prince of wales's light horse, beersheba, parade, slouch hat

Parade was part of 150th Anniversary of City of MelbourneColour photograph of Lieutenant H. Burvill, VMR Squadron, 4/19 Prince of Wales Light Horse during parade through Melbourne 31 October 1992melbourne, parade, military, burvill

Parade was part of 150th Anniversary of City of MelbourneColour photograph of Captain L. Jackel, VMR Squadron, 4/19 Prince of Wales Light Horse during parade through Melbourne 31 October 1992.military, jackel, parade, melbourne

On Saturday 13 May 2000, Victorian Mounted Rifles Squadron, 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment departed Buna Barracks Albury and relocated to its new depot at Building 105 North Bandiana. The occasion was marked by a parade through the main streets of Albury and Wodonga. The mayor of Albury, Councillor Les Langford, farewelled the regiment and the mayor of Wodonga, Councillor Graham Crapp, welcomed the regiment to Wodonga. At Building 105, the Area Commander, Colonel Chris Anstey, welcomed the regiment and handed over the building to Lieutenant Colonel Michael Annett, Commanding Officer 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse. Colour photograph of M113 Light Reconnaissance Vehicles (LRV) of Victorian Mounted Rifles Squadron, 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse regiment parading through Dean Street Albury.annett, anstey, bandiana, langford, 4th/19th, vmr, band, albury

Members of the Lake Bolac Light Horse on parade at their encampment beside the Hopkins River at Warrnambool. On left, Charles Geddes, Lewis Wills, 4th from left, James Geddes 5th and JT Murray, 2nd from right.lake bolac light horse, hopkins river, warrnambool, geddes, murray, wills

The 8th Light Horse Regiment AIF was raised at Broadmeadows Victoria in September 1914 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander White and formed part of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade. The regiment served at Gallipoli where in a courageous but ill-fated charge at the Nek on 7 August 1915 it suffered horrendous casualties including Lieutenant Colonel White. Rebuilt in Egypt under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Maygar VC the regiment went on the serve throughout the Middle East Campaign. Colonel Maygar died of wounds at Beersheba when the regiment was attacked by enemy aircraft while waiting to follow up the successful charge of the 4th LH Brigade on 30 October 1917. 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.Pert of a rare collection of photographs showing 8th Light Horse (AIF) during WWI (1914-1918)Black and white photograph of men of 8th Light Horse Regiment on parade ground at Broadmeadows Victoria with tents and marquees in background. Photo glued to fluted card backing."The Last Parade of the 8th Light Horse in its second camp, Broadmeadows"8th light horse regiment, broadmeadows

On Saturday 13 May 2000, Victorian Mounted Rifles Squadron, 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment departed Buna Barracks Albury and relocated to its new depot at Building 105 North Bandiana. The occasion was marked by a parade through the main streets of Albury and Wodonga. The mayor of Albury, Councillor Les Langford, farewelled the regiment and the mayor of Wodonga, Councillor Graham Crapp, welcomed the regiment to Wodonga. At Building 105, the Area Commander, Colonel Chris Anstey, welcomed the regiment and handed over the building to Lieutenant Colonel Michael Annett, Commanding Officer 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse. Major General David McLachlan was Honorary Colonel of 4/19 Prince of Wales's Light Horse.Colour photograph of Lieutenant Colonel M Annett, Councillor G Crapp, Major General McLachlan and Councillor L Langford on dais just prior to the march past of Victorian Mounted Rifles Squadron, 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse regiment parading through Dean Street Albury 13 May 2000.annett, anstey, bandiana, langford, 4th/19th, vmr, band, albury

Black and white image of three armoured vehicles each with soldier escorting large guidon/flags of the 8th/13th/20th Australian Light Horse regiments on parade through township of Wangaratta in February 1959 Black and white photograph depicting three armoured vehicles each with soldier standing holding a guidon/flag Regimental Parade Wangaratta February 1959 Guidons of the 8th/13th/20th ALH1959, guidons, wangaratta, 8/13/20 alh

in 1991, 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles and 4/19 Prince of Wales Light Horse linked to form a new Regiment.Two colour photographs of Regimental Band of ath/19th Prince of Wales Light Horse at Australia Day parade, Corowa NSW on 23 January 1994.

Three jeeps carrying flag bearers holding guidons of 8th, 13th & 20th Light Horse, Reserve Forces Day parade Albury 4 July 1998.military - reserve forces - albury - guidons, military, reserve forces, albury, guidons, parade

Staff - Sergeant Maurie Miles and WO 2 Lou Madjeric standing in Jeeps carrying guidons of 8th and 13th Light Horse, Reserve Forces Day Parade, Albury, 4 July 1998.reserve forces, parade, albury, guidon, military

Photographers: Historical Norman Brown, Contemporary George GitttoesSheetlet of 10x45c stamps. Historical on left: Charles Byrne and G Walker 29th/46th Btn New Guinea 1943 (AWM #16297) smaller image on left Light Horse on parade 1940 (AWM #001329). Contemporary on right: Trooper Jon Church carrying a child in Rwanda (1995) smaller image upper right Officers on Commando Officer Selection course Jul 1997. Selvedge features images of 13th Australian Light Horse in France 1918 (AWM #EO2979) and a soldier greeting the dawn in Balibo and the Rising Sun badge.

Vehicles are of the VMR heritage Vehicle Section. In 1991 8/13 VMR and 4/19 PWLH linked to form a new Regiment of two squadrons: VMR squadron and PWLH Squadron.Colour photograph of 4 soldiers of VMR Squadron 4/19 Prince of Wales's Light Horse at Australia Day Parade Corowa NSW 23 January 1994 . Standing at right Sergeant Gary Wynn; seated Corporal Neil Ray.

These images capture for all time Light Horsemen travelling through Geelong on their way to camp at Torquay for the last Group meeting in Australia . information following - details obtained from .........https://torquayhistory.com/light-horse-brigade/ On Australia Day, 1997, Sir John Young unveiled this plaque on Point Danger, Torquay. Torquay history, Light Horse Training Camp, WW2 Plaque at Pt. Danger Note----- (See images to view plaque) The plaque identifies a significant event in Torquay’s history and the sentiments of ‘change’ for the Light Horse Brigade – from horses to machines. In 1940 the four Light Horse Regiments (4th, 8th, 13th and 20th), some 5000 Light Horse and 2000 horses camped and trained at Torquay. Three other regiments, formerly mounted on horses, were also at Torquay ‘mounted’ on privately owned trucks and cars. Division troops included Artillery, Engineers, Signals, Field Ambulance and other branches of the Army necessary to enable a Division to function. It wasn’t just the sheer numbers of men coming to this little town that made the event significant, it was also the fact that the men of the Light Horse were dramatic, almost glamorous figures and it is easy to see their exploits as some splendid adventure. Horses have played a special role in the story of Australia. They were the only means of transport across this huge country, so it was necessary for everyone to have the ability to ride a horse. When war broke out in 1899 between Britain and the Boers of South Africa (“Boer” was Dutch for “farmer”) Australia sent troops to fight. At first Britain was wary of using untried, unprofessional colonial cavalrymen but soon saw that the slouch-hatted Australian “bushmen” were a match for the fast-moving and unconventional mounted commandos of the Boers. The Australians proved themselves to be expert rough-riding horsemen and good shots. Bush life had hardened them to go for long periods with little food and water. They also showed remarkable ability to find their way in a strange country and use its features for cover, in both attack and defence. By 1914, when Australia joined the war against Germany, there were 23 Light Horse regiments of militia volunteers. Many men from these units joined the Light Horse regiments of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Men were given remounts (if not using their own horses) – army horses bought by Commonwealth purchasing officers from graziers and breeders. These were called “walers” because they were a New South Wales stockhorse type – strong, great-hearted animals with the strains of the thoroughbred and semi-draught to give them speed, strength and stamina. On 1st November, 1914, Australia’s First Infantry Division and the first four Light Horse regiments sailed for England in a fleet of transport ships. The first of the Light Horse arrived at Gallipoli in May without their horses. Back with their horses after Gallipoli, they were formidable combatants across the Sinai and Palestine. Some British commanders observed that the light horseman moved with a “lazy, slouching gait, like that of a sleepy tiger” but described how the promise of battle “changes that careless gait, into a live athletic swing that takes him over the ground much quicker than other troops”. They had Light Horse, Torquay, training campdeveloped a reputation as formidable infantrymen. The Turks called them “the White Ghurkas” – a reference to their deadly skill with the bayonet. The Arabs called them “The Kings of the Feathers”. The plume had originally been a battle honour of the Queensland Mounted Infantry for their work in the shearer’s strike of 1891. During WW1 it was adopted by almost all the Light Horse Regiments. It was the proud badge of the light horseman. The most famous of their battles was the attack on Beersheba- the charge of the 4th Light Horse Brigade. Mounted infantrymen and their superb walers had carried out one of the most successful cavalry charges in history – against what seemed impossible odds. They surprised the Turks by charging cavalry-style, when they would normally have ridden close to an objective then dismounted to fight. The fall of Beersheba swung the battle tide against the Turks in Palestine; and changed the history of the Middle East. While 19 men from the Surf Coast Shire served with the 4th Light Horse over the course of WW1, only four were involved in the charge of Beersheba- John GAYLARD, Philip QUINN.(Winchelsea); Wallace FINDLAY (Anglesea); Harry TRIGG (Bambra). After the war, Light Horse units played a key role in the Australian Government’s compulsory military training programme. The Citizen Military Forces (C.M.F.) thrived on the glamour of the wartime Light Horse tradition, ignoring the possibility that motor vehicles would soon replace the horses. When training was no longer compulsory, the C.M.F. regiments declined and horses became more of a luxury during the 1930s depression years of poverty and unemployment. Some regiments were motorised. Then, in 1939, Australia joined Britain in another world war. Training was increased for the militia at both home bases and regional training camps. The camp at Torquay in 1940, commanded by Major General Rankin, was at Divisional strength. By the end of the camp some felt that the Division was ready for active service. Gradually, over the next four years, the Australian Light Horse units were mounted on wheels and tracks and the horses were retired. Six men enlisted at the Torquay camp and another 57 men and women enlisted at Torquay for service in WW2. Those who served in the Militia provided valuable Officers and NCOs and men for the armed services during the war. Each infantry division of the 2nd AIF had a Light Horse regiment attached to it. But the day of the Australian mounted soldier hadn’t quite passed. During World War II, Australia’s 6th Cavalry Regiment formed a mounted unit they called “The Kelly Gang” which did valuable scouting work. In New Guinea, a mounted Light Horse Troop did patrol duty and helped carry supplies. Some fully equipped walers were flown into Borneo for reconnaissance in rugged mountain country. But by the end of the war, in 1945, the horse had disappeared from the Australian Army. References: Australian Light Horse Association www.lighthorse.org.au National Australia Archives Australian War Memorial Surf Coast Shire WW1 memorials www.togethertheyserved.com The Light horse- a Cavalry under Canvas Light Horse, Training Camp, Torquay, WW2 Late in 1939 it was decided to set up a Lighthorse training camp in Torquay to train both men and horses for the battles of the Second World War. Horses, men and equipment came on special trains from all over Victoria and NSW, and as you would expect horseman came from areas such as Omeo and Sale, the Wimmera and the Western District. They arrived at the Geelong racecourse for watering in the Barwon River and then were ridden across the ford at the breakwater and began their 11 mile trek to Torquay. Light Horse, Training Camp, Torquay, WW2 Tent city By the end of January 1940 the camp at Torquay accommodated some 5000 men and 2500 horses of the Second Cavalry Division. The rows of horses, tents and huts near Blackgate Road were quite a sight. While the cavalrymen engaged in exercises on the land and on the beaches, many of the troops took over the Torquay School for special training of men and officers. Mr Bob Pettit local farmer and Councillor for the Barrabool Shire, wrote about the Light horse in the Surf Coast Community News in 1985 saying “They used to travel about the district riding four abreast in one long convoy. To my annoyance they went through my property and shut all the gates behind them. I had certain gates open to let stock in to the water holes and it would take me three -quarters of an hour to follow the horsemen up and put all the gates right again” he continued “the men from the Light Horse were here when the fire went through in March 1940. He recalled an incident when early one morning, as some one blew the bugle, a soldier putting a white sheet on the line frightened the horses. They panicked and ran off in all directions. Six went over the cliff near Bird Rock, five were never found, and the rest were gathered up after nearly a fortnight in the bush around Addiscott and Anglesea" Light Horse, Training Camp, Torquay, WW2, Geelong Parade Geelong parade The training camp culminated in a parade through the streets of Geelong on March 12th 1940. The salute was given at the Town Hall and the troops continued on a route to the You Yang’s for a training exercise. Note-----(see media section for photograph) The Camp was abandoned in mid 1940 as it was deemed unsuitable for training during winter and the cost of a permanent camp could not be justified if it could not be used all year. Historic.......Rare,,,Interpretive.Sepia photographs.set of four ....post card size ....Horses &LighthorsemenNo 1, Lighthorsemen Regiment Geelong 1940......No 2 Light Horse at Breakwater Geelong 1938 to 1940....No 3 Light Horse at Breakwater Geelong 1938 to 1940.....No 4 Light Horse crossing Breakwater camped at Geelong Showgrounds. These markings are on reverse of photographs.light horsemengeelong 1940., world war 2

Australian Light Horse BrigadeBlack and white photo of soldiers on horseback riding in formation across a dusty wide plain with trees in background.A.L.H. Camp at Broadford 1914 Brigade on Parade 27postcards, world war i, photographs, military, light horse, william smith

For Rupert Exon No 408 refer 486P for his service history.Album cover is red & dark gold angled striped pattern. Contains black & white photos of various subjects - The Emben Wreck, parades, churches in Middle East & harbours. Top left on front cover on a white sheet in blue ink: “Donald W Clark Historian” Below in black centre: “Photos & Souvenirs No 408 Trooper Robert T Exon and Trooper G E Exon 9th Light Horse Regiment 1915 - 1918”album, photograph, trooper, light horse