Historical information

The Light horse Heritage Troop of the 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles provided mounted escort to the Royal couple, HRH Prince Charles and HRH Princess Diana.In 1985, the portion of Puckapunyal Army Camp housing the Armoured School and Corps Museum underwent a major rebuild. The new facility named Hopkins Barracks was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles on 31 October 1985. Prince Charles, who was accompanied by his wife HRH Princess Diana, is Colonel in Chief of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC). The Barracks is named to honour Major General R N L Hopkins who was instrumental in the development of the RAAC and is affectionally known as the ‘father of the Corps’.

Significance

Complements another group of photographs in the collection of this rare event on the Australian military calendar, It is taken from a different location by another photographer.

Physical description

Black and white photograph of men of the 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Heritage Troop escorting HRH Prince Charles and HRH Princess Diana at Puckapunyal 31 October 1985. Photograph is glued to fluted plastic backing card.