Australia informed Great Britain that would likely support the enlistment of volunteers to South Africa. The Victorian Commandant, Major General Holled Smith, a veteran of the humiliation at Majuba Hill, publicly declared his support of the idea of an Australian force.The growing idea that an ability to ride and shoot, combined with some degree of military training, was the fore-runner for the Mounted Riflemen. In the late 1890s, Major General Sir Charles Holled Smith believed that mounted rifles were 'essentially the arm for Australia. They know the country to be operated over, and they can ride'.Individual image from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards.australia, great britain, south africa, volunteers, charle holled smith, majuba hill, mounted riflemen, commandant

After completing his education, Sir Frederick Carrington joined the 24th Regiment of Foot in 1864. In 1875 he went to South Africa and formed and commanded the Mounted Infantry in the Griqualand West expedition and the Frontier Light Horse in the Ninth Frontier War in 1877. In 1878-1879 he commanded the Transvaal Volunteer Force against Sekhukhune and the Cape Mounted Riflemen in the Basuto Gun War of 1881. In 1885 he was in command of the 2nd Mounted Infantry when he accompanied Sir Charles Warren expedition to Bechuanaland. The Infantry soon became known as "Carrington's Horse". He became military adviser to the High Commissioner in the First Matabele War and commanded the British Force in the Matabele Rebellion in 1896. During 1899-1900 he was back in Ireland but returned to South Africa in 1900 following the outbreak of the Second Boer War and was appointed on the staff of the South Africa Field Force with the rank of lieutenant-general. he was in command of the Rhodesian Field Force during the war. He was awarded the Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1887 and Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1897.Individual image from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards.sir frederick carrington, south africa, transvaal volunteer force, mounted infantry, frontier light horse, griqualand west, ninth frontier war, cape mounted riflemen, basuto gun war, carrington's horse, high commissioner, second boer war, lieutenant-general, knight commander of the order of the bath, knight commander of the order of st michael and st george, rhodesian field force

Formed in 1885, Victorian Mounted Rifles companies were recruited in rural centres, including Wangaratta. Members of country rifle clubs formed a significant component. They were semi-professional: only a small allowance was paid to members. Mounted Riflemen were required to provide their own mount. Not to be confused with similarly named contingents to the Boer War. Part of the Victorian Colonial Military Forces - the umbrella term for organized Victorian (non-British) pre-colonial military activity. Red stained and lacquered wood shield with a silver metal Victoria mounted rifles symbol in the centre.VICTORIA MOUNTED RIFLES

The Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised in 1885 as the mounted arm of Victoria’s colonial defence forces. Companies were recruited in rural centres across the State, members of country rifle clubs forming a significant component. They were semi-professional: only a small allowance was paid to members. Members were required to provide their own mount. Mounted riflemen were not cavalry, not being equipped with lance or sword. They were trained to fight with rifle and bayonet after dismounting. Horses enabled rapid and far reaching manoeuvrability. Upon Federation, the VMR companies became Australian Light Horse regiments.Rare photograph of mounted Victorian colonial soldier.Black and white photograph of Victorian Mounted Rifles trooper mounted on his horse. His side arm is a Yataghan sword bayonet indicating he would be armed with a Martini-Henry rifle.victorian mounted rifles, vmr, uniform, bayonet, horse, military, colonial

The Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised in 1885 as the mounted arm of Victoria’s colonial defence forces. Companies were recruited in rural centres across the State, members of country rifle clubs forming a significant component. They were semi-professional: only a small allowance was paid to members. Members were required to provide their own mount. Mounted riflemen were not cavalry, not being equipped with lance or sword. The were trained to fight with rifle and bayonet after dismounting. Horses enabled rapid and far reaching manoeuvrability. Upon Federation, the VMR companies became Australian Light Horse regiments.Rare photograph showing the social aspect of pre-Federation militia.Black and white photograph of large group of soldiers of the Victorian Mounted Rifles together with two women and two children. There are tents in the background suggesting the occasion was an open day during an annual encampment.victoria, mounted rifles, colonial, uniform, military

The Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised in 1885 as the mounted arm of Victoria’s colonial defence forces. Companies were recruited in rural centres across the State, members of country rifle clubs forming a significant component. They were semi-professional: only a small allowance was paid to members. Members were required to provide their own mount. Mounted riflemen were not cavalry, not being equipped with lance or sword. The were trained to fight with rifle and bayonet after dismounting. Horses enabled rapid and far reaching manoeuvrability. Upon Federation, the VMR companies became Australian Light Horse regiments.Fine study of pre-Federation soldier showing uniform.Black and white photograph of a soldier of the pre-Federation Victorian Mounted Rifles.victoria, mounted rifles, uniform, military

"Captain Simon Thomas Staughton was the son of Simon Thomas Staughton MLA who had built the mansion Eynesbury on his share of the Exford property inherited from his father Simon Staughton, the original 1840s Werribee River squatter. When the land was sold, Simon’s Exford station extended from Mt Cotterell to the Brisbane Ranges. ST Staughton (senior) was a reputedly the public spirited member of the family in his generation, being a member of the first Roads Board (and Melton Shire President in 1867), a JP, Magistrate and MLA for Bourke from 1883 until his death in 1901, whereupon his son became the MLA for Bourke. Captain ST Staughton had earlier been chosen as a member of a contingent of Victorian Mounted Riflemen sent to England for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee (1897), and was later a member of King Edward’s coronation escort. In October 1899 he had sailed for South Africa with other Mounted Riflemen from Victorian and NSW to take part in the Boer War. There he was awarded the DSO. He died of peritonitis in 1903, aged 27. He was buried in Boroondara Cemetery after a full military funeral, in which the coffin was borne on a gun carriage drawn by four black horses. All local newspapers reported eloquently on the funeral, and the late Captain’s virtues. The Staughton Memorial Lamp was given to the town by his young widow in 1903. In addition a window in the (former) Christ Church bore the inscription ‘This window is erected by his brother soldiers in loving memory of Captain S Tom Staughton, DSO, ADC, MLA’. The Staughton family had been prominent benefactors of the Church, whose altar rails were also inscribed to the much respected Captain, along with a memorial stone in the new chancel. In the 1970s the memorial was within one of four fenced tree plantations, probably erected and planted in the 1920s or 30s. When High Street and its service roads were redesigned in the 1970s the plantations were completely removed, and the Melton and District Historical Society was successful in having the memorial moved about 50 metres east to its present location". The Weekly Times article about a gift from Tom Staughtonlocal identities

Lloyd Lindsay Competition In 1873 Colonel Loyd Lindsay introduced a prize for mounted riflemen. The initial experimental competition was a great success and it was for many years a feature of the various shooting programs. The conditions in 1873 required that sections of four mounted men were to ride about three quarters of a mile, taking two flights of hurdles in the course, and were, while dismounted and their horses either linked or held by alternate files, each to fire five shots at 200 yards standing, and the same number at 400 yards in any position. There was a time limit of twelve minutes, and the rifle, of any Government pattern, had to be carried on the back or slung to the saddle. 13TH GIPPSLAND LIGHT HORSE HANDSOME TROPHIES ON VIEW Thery are on view in the window of Mr. A. W. Bennett, Jeweller, some handsome trophies which were pre sented to the 13th (Gippsland) Light Horse, and which are worthy of the admiration they have elicited. A handsome pair of solid silver candal abra, presented to the officers mess of the Regiment by Mrs. Norman Mc Lean in memory of her husband, the late Lieut. Norman McLean, who for many years was a member of the re giment, are a fine piece of workman ship and valued at £200. The silver cup donated by the same lady for competition amongst the Regimental troops, is also very handsome. The late* Hon. .William - Pearson, M.L.C., who was Honorary Colonel of the 13th (Gippsland) Light Horse Re giment, presented a handsome silver cup. for competition amongst the' troops of the 'regiment, Iand teams will compete 'for it annually at the camp of continuous training. The ar ray of trophies is a most interesting one. Gippsland Times 19 Jan 1925 HUTTON SHIELD Stratford Troop Beaten After winning the Hutton Shield for four years in succession, the Stratford Troop of the 13th. (Gipps land) Light Horse was defeated in this year's competition last week, Scottsdale Troop (Tasmania) beating Stratford by 17 points. Gippsland Times 22 May 1933 Black & white photo of 17 silver Light Horse trophies on a British flag draped display stand. Trophies include: Lloyd Lindsay Competition for best section & lance and sword events, Foster Cup for best troop in Australia, Machine Gun Troop, Pearson Cup, Digger Trophy for best Regiment in Australia, McClean Cup and donated candelabra, Hutton Shield for best Light Horse Troop in Australia, Brigade Cup for sports in annual camp.Sydney Whillams. Sketch on back identifying objectslight horse, trophies, photo

A section of four riflemen was the basic element of a Light Horse unit. In action when forced to dismount, three men formed the firing group while one man took the horses to cover.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 redesignated 20th Pioneer Battalion and deployed to Merauke, Dutch New Guinea. The regiment was disbanded at the end of the war, 1945. 20th Light Horse was the only light horse unit to serve overseas in WWII.This is one of a collection of photographs featuring a Light Horse regiment drawn from rural and regional Victoria in the period immediately prior to mobilisation for World War 2 (1939-1945).Black and white photograph mounted on card of four mounted horsemen being a section of the 20th Light Horse Regiment circa 1939. A fine image but the keen eyed observer will note the negative has been reversed in the processing.