Film "The Lighthorsemen", starring Jon blake, Sigrid Thornton & Peter Phelps. Features the Light Horse charge at Beersheba. Colour, running time 116 minutes. PGcharge beersheba, dvd, lighthorsemen

‘A’ Squadron 8/13 Victorian mounted Rifles hosted a special screening of the movie “The Lighthorsemen” at the Regent Theatre Albury on 11 September 1987. The official party included the Area Commander Albury-Wodonga Military Area, Honorary Colonel 8/13 VMR and Officer Commanding ‘a’ Squadron 8/13 VMR. The VMR Heritage Troop mounted a Lance-Guard in the theatre foyer and the Albury City Band played prior to the screening. Proceeds from the function were donated to Legacy.Colour photograph of CDolonel C. Brewer, Commander AWMA with Captain Robert Morrison arriving at the special screening of the " Lighthorsemen " at Albury. Lance - Guard Trooper Chris Ellison in backgroundmilitary, vmr, movie, lighthorsemen, theatre

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

A’ Squadron 8/13 Victorian mounted Rifles hosted a special screening of the movie “The Lighthorsemen” at the Regent Theatre Albury on 11 September 1987. The official party included the Area Commander Albury-Wodonga Military Area, Honorary Colonel 8/13 VMR and Officer Commanding ‘a’ Squadron 8/13 VMR. The VMR Heritage Troop mounted a Lance-Guard in the theatre foyer and the Albury City Band played prior to the screening. Proceeds from the function were donated to Legacy.Colour photograph of display in foyer of Theatre at special screening of " The Lighthorsemen " 11 September 1987.military, cinema, light horse, film, legacy

1342 Trooper Allen Davidson of Mt.Egerton Vic; 1341 Trooper George Davidson of Mt Egerton Vic; and 1340 Trooper William Duggan of Albert Park Vic. T he 13th Light Horse Regiment (AIF) was raised t Broadmeadows Victoria in March 1915. Following service at Gallipoli the regiment was broken up with squadrons going to France as Divisional Cavalry Squadrons of 2nd, 4th and 5ht Divisions. The regiment was reformed as firstly 1st Anzac Corps Mounted Troops and lather Australian Corps Mounted Troops.Black and white photograph of three soldiers of the 13th Light Horse Regiment: Troopers Alan Daviidson, George Davidson and Bill Duggan.13th, light horse, world war one, davidson, duggan

‘A’ Squadron 8/13 Victorian mounted Rifles hosted a special screening of the movie “The Lighthorsemen” at the Regent Theatre Albury on 11 September 1987. The official party included the Area Commander Albury-Wodonga Military Area, Honorary Colonel 8/13 VMR and Officer Commanding ‘a’ Squadron 8/13 VMR. The VMR Heritage Troop mounted a Lance-Guard in the theatre foyer and the Albury City Band played prior to the screening. Proceeds from the function were donated to Legacy.Colour photograph of a horse with Light Horse saddlry and equipment. It was part of a static display at special screening of film " The Lighthorsemen " at Albury 11 September 1987.

‘A’ Squadron 8/13 Victorian mounted Rifles hosted a special screening of the movie “The Lighthorsemen” at the Regent Theatre Albury on 11 September 1987. The official party included the Area Commander Albury-Wodonga Military Area, Honorary Colonel 8/13 VMR and Officer Commanding ‘a’ Squadron 8/13 VMR. The VMR Heritage Troop mounted a Lance-Guard in the theatre foyer and the Albury City Band played prior to the screening. Proceeds from the function were donated to Legacy.Newspaper clipping from Border Mail of Wednesday 9 September 1987 regarding special screening of film " the lighthorsemen " hosted by 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles.

‘A’ Squadron 8/13 Victorian mounted Rifles hosted a special screening of the movie “The Lighthorsemen” at the Regent Theatre Albury on 11 September 1987. The official party included the Area Commander Albury-Wodonga Military Area, Honorary Colonel 8/13 VMR and Officer Commanding ‘a’ Squadron 8/13 VMR. The VMR Heritage Troop mounted a Lance-Guard in the theatre foyer and the Albury City Band played prior to the screening. Proceeds from the function were donated to Legacy.Colour photograph of gathering in theatre foyer prior tto screening of " The Lighthorsemen ". Facing camera from left: Major J. Gay, Colonel J.A. Neale, Squadron Sergeant Major Clarke and Colonel C. Brewer.

Timber framed watercolour 3 mounted Lighthorsemen charging bayonets drawn

Regimental guard from D Squadron 13th Light Horse at Torquay Camp 1940. 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.Two black and white photographs of troop of Lighthorsemen about to mount guard in camp at Torquay 1940.13th, light horse, torquay

F. S. Frank Mounsey's Coy in Egypt.A mounted b/w photograph of soldiers attending to horse lying on the ground. Group of Lighthorsemen c 1914.world war 1, soldiers, uniforms, armed forces, clothing and dress, mounsey, frank, horses, george evans collection

c1914-1915 LighthorsemenA sepia postcard full portrait of soldier Alex Murphy, standing at ease with his hands at his side.Handwritten on front: YOURS SINCERLY ALEX Typewritten on front: ALEX MURPHY Handwritten on back: Mrs J. Murphymurphy, j. (mrs), alex, soldiers, armed forces, uniforms, clothing and dress, george evans collection

‘A’ Squadron 8/13 Victorian mounted Rifles hosted a special screening of the movie “The Lighthorsemen” at the Regent Theatre Albury on 11 September 1987. The official party included the Area Commander Albury-Wodonga Military Area, Honorary Colonel 8/13 VMR and Officer Commanding ‘a’ Squadron 8/13 VMR. The VMR Heritage Troop mounted a Lance-Guard in the theatre foyer and the Albury City Band played prior to the screening. Proceeds from the function were donated to Legacy.Colour photograph of Corporal Shane Walch, a member of the 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Heritage Toop which mounted a Lance - Guard at the film screening at Albury 11 September 1987.

A’ Squadron 8/13 Victorian mounted Rifles hosted a special screening of the movie “The Lighthorsemen” at the Regent Theatre Albury on 11 September 1987. The official party included the Area Commander Albury-Wodonga Military Area, Honorary Colonel 8/13 VMR and Officer Commanding ‘a’ Squadron 8/13 VMR. The VMR Heritage Troop mounted a Lance-Guard in the theatre foyer and the Albury City Band played prior to the screening. Proceeds from the function were donated to Legacy.Colour photograph of group in foyer prior to screening of film. Member of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Heritage Troop Lance Guard in foreground.

A’ Squadron 8/13 Victorian mounted Rifles hosted a special screening of the movie “The Lighthorsemen” at the Regent Theatre Albury on 11 September 1987. The official party included the Area Commander Albury-Wodonga Military Area, Honorary Colonel 8/13 VMR and Officer Commanding ‘a’ Squadron 8/13 VMR. The VMR Heritage Troop mounted a Lance-Guard in the theatre foyer and the Albury City Band played prior to the screening. Proceeds from the function were donated to Legacy.Two colour photographs of Trooper R.J. Walsh a member of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Heritage Troop mounting the Lance - Guard at special screening of film 11 September 1987.

‘A’ Squadron 8/13 Victorian mounted Rifles hosted a special screening of the movie “The Lighthorsemen” at the Regent Theatre Albury on 11 September 1987. The official party included the Area Commander Albury-Wodonga Military Area, Honorary Colonel 8/13 VMR and Officer Commanding ‘a’ Squadron 8/13 VMR. The VMR Heritage Troop mounted a Lance-Guard in the theatre foyer and the Albury City Band played prior to the screening. Proceeds from the function were donated to Legacy.Colour photograph of Corporal Nigel Morris, a member of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Heritage Troop which mounted a Lance - Guard at the film screening at Albury 11 September 1987

A’ Squadron 8/13 Victorian mounted Rifles hosted a special screening of the movie “The Lighthorsemen” at the Regent Theatre Albury on 11 September 1987. The official party included the Area Commander Albury-Wodonga Military Area, Honorary Colonel 8/13 VMR and Officer Commanding ‘a’ Squadron 8/13 VMR. The VMR Heritage Troop mounted a Lance-Guard in the theatre foyer and the Albury City Band played prior to the screening. Proceeds from the function were donated to Legacy.Colour photograph of Trooper Chris Ellison, a member of the 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Heritage Troop which mounted a Lance - Guard at the film screening at Albury 11 September 1987.

‘A’ Squadron 8/13 Victorian mounted Rifles hosted a special screening of the movie “The Lighthorsemen” at the Regent Theatre Albury on 11 September 1987. The official party included the Area Commander Albury-Wodonga Military Area, Honorary Colonel 8/13 VMR and Officer Commanding ‘a’ Squadron 8/13 VMR. The VMR Heritage Troop mounted a Lance-Guard in the theatre foyer and the Albury City Band played prior to the screening. Proceeds from the function were donated to Legacy.Colour photograph of a group ascending stairs at Regent Theatre Albury. From left: Capt R. Morrison, Colonel J. Neale, Mrs. D. Morrison, major J. Gay, Mrs. C. brewer, Colonel C. Brewer.

The 8th Light Horse was initially raised from companies of the colonial Victorian Mounted Rifles located in North-east Victoria following Federation. In 1912 a major reorganisation of the Australian military forces resulted in the regiment being renumbered 16th Light Horse. The Regiment was disbanded in 1919 but soon after was re-raised as the 8th (Indi) Light Horse in the Citizen Military Forces, with the territorial title Indi Light Horse. The Indi Light Horse consisted of 3 squadrons. A squadron consisted of troops in Corryong, Walwa, Tallangatta, Eskdale and Wodonga. After an extensive recruiting campaign in January 1939 a new troop was raised in Bethanga, 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.This article is significant because it depicts horses being loaded at the Wodonga Railway Station to despatch to the training camp at Broadmeadows. Two black and white images from the Border Morning Mail Friday March 10, 1939. One image shows horses being loaded on to trains in Wodonga to be sent to the base at Broadmeadows, Victoria. The second image depicts two leaders of the 8th Light Horse Regiment.Caption with Photo 1 WODONGA AND DISTRICT SOLDIERS OF THE KING Top: Wodonga railway station presented busy scenes on Monday when the lighthorsemen and their mounts took possession of it. Bottom- Although the men were jubilant at boarding the train for Broadmeadows the horses did not like the idea. This horse was no exception. Photo 2 TWO LIGHTHORSE LEADERS Lieutenant L. W. Welesmith, Tallangatta (left), discussing the entraining of horses for Broadmeadows at Wodonga, with Lieutenant J. A. Mc-Geoch (Wodonga), before the departure of the 8th Light Horse troop.australian light horse, peter frawley, light horse wodonga

Maker unknown. This blanket was part of the standard army issue kit and belonged to Lois Denshams father, who served at Gallipoli during the first world war. Before donating the blanket to the Running stitch collection, it was kept by Lois' Aunty Nita. Lois remembers that it was kept in her fathers original kit bag and kept at her aunts place because of sad memories about the war which her mother found difficult. The humble army blanket had many uses during war times. Issued with two blankets, it was all a soldier had as a bed to keep warm or without a tent, all they had to provide shelter from the sun, rain or wind. (They were supplemented with a woollen army 'great coat', but soldiers still had to huddle together as keeping warm and dry was a desperate game.) The Lighthorsemen used them under their standard leather saddles for extra padding and in the hospitals they were sometimes the only bedding for the wounded. This blanket belonged to Lois Denshams' father who served in the Australian Army in the First World War, landing at Gallipoli. Since the war, army blankets have come to be regarded as the basic type of blanket -no frills. This blanket was used in the Densham family since that time for camping trips.Grey woollen army blanket with stripes near either ends.world war i, running stitch group, running stitch collection