Historical information

Cambrai Day is celebrated annually by Armoured Corps regiments of the British Commonwealth. It marks the anniversary of the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917 when a force of more than 400 British Mark IV Tanks broke the defences of the German Hindenburg Line, It was the first large-scale, effective use of tanks in warfare. Cambrai turned from a battle of great success to failure, but it heralded a new type of warfare and changed the nature of the battlefield forever.The gathering at Buna Barracks Albury, Beersheba Barracks Wangaratta, Bapaume Barracks Benalla and Salamaua Barracks Cobram on 30 November 1986 was the inaugural meeting of the 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regimental Association.

Physical description

Colour photograph of Corporal Bruce Barnett and Major Gordon Cole taken at Buna Barracks Albury at a Cambrai Day gathering of former members of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles, 30 November 1986.

Inscriptions & markings

Gordon Cole enlisted as a trooper and progressed to Squadron Commander.