Historical information

No 1 Troop C Squadron 20th Light Horse Regiment drawn from the farming community of Tocumwal, personified the strength of citizen soldiering in rural Victorian and Southern NSW in the period following World War One and especially in the years immediately prior to the second World War. Building on the strength and enthusiasm of the Tocumwal Troop other Troops were raised at Finley, Berigan and Jerilderie. The Tocumwal Troop won the coveted Hutton Trophy in 1937 and 1938, defeating crack Troops from other States.
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.

Significance

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).

Physical description

Black and white photograph of 17 men in Light Horse uniform posed in two ranks, being the winning Troop in the Hutton Trophy 1937 and 1938

Inscriptions & markings

" No.1 Troop C Squadron, 20th Light Horse Regiment. Tocumwal Troop. Winner of the Hutton Trophy 1937 and 1938.Rear Row ( L to R ) Lance Corporal Tilbury, Trooper Wilton, Sergeant Clive Thorborn, Trooper Eric Huggard, Trooper Alan Bogie, Trooper Bill Adcock, Lance Corporal Alan Smibert, Trooper Eric Bourchier. Front Row ( L to R )Trooper Jim Smith, Trooper Alan Quick,Trooper Ian Parkes, Lieutenant Bob Fyffe, ( unknown ),Warrant Officer Victor Groutsch, Trooper Murray Scott, Lance Corporal Cyril Bourchier, Trooper Keith Johnson. Several members of the Troop were unable to be present when this photo was taken.They include Troopers L. Allen, W. Quick, N. Harris, C. Scott, W. Scott, I. Brodie, K. Farley and others. "