Historical information

Lieutenant Colonel MW Fairless transferred from the Royal Australian Artillery when he took up a posting in Albury with the Commonwealth Bank. He was Commanding Officer of 8/13 VMR 1965 - 1969. The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948 with Headquarters in Melbourne and squadrons in Sale, Benalla/Wangaratta and Albury. In 1955 Regimental Headquarters moved to Wangaratta and a second squadron was located at Albury. The Sale squadron transferred to 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. In 1977 8/13 VMR Regiment was reduced to an independent squadron A Squadron 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles and in 1991 was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse forming the VMR Squadron of that regiment.

Significance

One of a collection of photographic portraits of Commanding Officers and Officers Commanding of the regiment/independent squadron from its inception in 1947 to its linking with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse in 1991.

Physical description

Framed black and white photograph of officer wearing black beret with 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles hat badge. Inscription on lower frame.

Inscriptions & markings

" Lt. Col. M.W. Fairless ED 1965 - 1969 "