Metal protector designed to slip snugly round a match box. The regimental badge on side is damaged but appears to be Medical Corps. Difficult to date or to decide if Australian Army or British Army.

Small three-soded metal box with regimental badge attached to one side.

match, army

Wax matches also known as 'strike anywhere' were invented in 1826 by William Newton in England. It consisted of a wax stem with embedded cotton threads and a tip of phosphorus. Cases of various styles were introduced to protect against accidental combustion. This simple but robust metal cylindrical box with close fitting cap made it attractive to soldiers in World War One. Bryant & May was a British company created in the mid-19th century specifically to make matches. In 1901 they acquired the rights to the Swan Vesta process.

Match cylinder with press on lid.

On cap " Bryant & Mays Wax Vesta London"

match, bryant & may

During World War One poisonous gas was used as a weapon. When gas was detected or suspected an alarm was given in the trenches so soldiers could put on masks and protective gear. The gas rattle was a simple and effective method of raising the alarm. Gas precautions were taken in World War Two but gas was not used. This rattle might be WWI vintage or it might be from WWII era.

A wooden box incorporating a toothed cog attached to a 'swing' handle. When swung the toothed cog engaged with a wooden flap enclosed in the box causing a loud noise.

world war one, wwi, gas

World War One individual trenching shovel probably issued by German Army.

Small shovel with wooden handle. Blade is worn.

1915

world war one, wwi, german army

Small axe, metal head with one bladed end and one spiked end. Wooden handle. Probably World War One (WWI) German army issue.

world war one, wwi, german army

World War One vintage personal entrenching tool carried by a soldier. Probable German issue.

Metal entrenching tool with spade end and pick end, wooden handle.

world war one, wwi, german, trench

Type and country of origin still being researched

Bayonet, double edged, with quillion and wooden handle.

bayonet, wwi

This set of spurs belonged to Lieutenant Thomas Spencer Howard 8th Australian Light Horse Regiment. Howard was killed in action in the charge at the Nek, Gallipoli peninsula, on 7 August 1915. Howard was a 25-year-old grain dealer from Melbourne when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force and was appointed a lieutenant in the 8th Australian Light Horse on 24 October 1914. He had pre-World War One service with 10th Light Horse (VMR), 11th & 29th Light Horse Regiments. They were returned, together with a pair of binoculars, to his family following his death.

Spurs with leather straps and chains

howard, gallipoli, nek, wwi, world war one, light horse, 8th

These binoculars belonged to Lieutenant Thomas Spencer Howard, 8th Australian Light Horse Regiment. Howard was killed in action in the charge at the Nek, Gallipoli peninsula, on 7 August 1915. Howard was a 25-year-old grain dealer from Melbourne when he enlisted in the AIF and was appointed a lieutenant in the 8th ALH on 24 October 1914. He had pre-World War One service with 10th Light Horse (VMR), 11th & 29th Light Horse Regiments. Prior to sailing he was presented with these binoculars: “Lieut TS Howard 8th LH, 3rd Aust Imp Exped’y Force, From Chief and Staff of J.F.C. Jan 1915”. They were returned, together with his spurs, to his family following his death.

Metal binoculars with leather case with metal presentation plaque on inside flap lid.

Lieut TS Howard 8th LH, 3rd Aust Imp Exped’y Force, From Chief and Staff of J.F.C. Jan 1915

howard, light horse, 8th, gallipoli, binoculars, wwi, world war one, nek

1897 pattern officer's sword with leather thong, and leather and metal scabbard.

'VMR E' on blade near hilt

vmr, sword, weapon

This shirt was worn by Staff Sergeant Maurice Miles 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles. SSgt Miles had World War Two service prior to joining the Citizen Military Forces (CMF)

Jungle green shirt with rolled sleeves, yellow lanyard on right sleeve, metal VMR shoulder titles, Staff-Sergeant rank insignia, ribbon bar: British War Medal 1939-45, Australian Service Medal 39-45, Efficiency Medal with rosette, and National Medal.

world war two, wwii, miles, vmr

Uniform worn by Major Charles Stening when serving with 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles. He had World War Two service (SX 1412) and service with United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) 1951.

Battledress jacket, shirt and tie. Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC) shoulder titles, Major badges of rank, blue platted lanyard, ribbon bar: 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Defence medal, British War Medal 1939-45, Australian Service medal 1939-45, United Nations medal and Efficiency Decoration (ED). Blue UN beret.

united nations, world war two, wwii, sinai, stening, un, unmogip

This uniform probably was worn by a cadre staff member posted to 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles to provide training to reserve soldiers. 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.

Battledress jacket, trousers, shirt and tie with Warrant Officer Class Two rank insignia, Parachute qualification insignia, ribbon bar: General Service medal with Borneo bar, Vietnam medal, National medal and Vietnamese Campaign medal.

military, vmr, uniform

VX 42774 Captain H G (Bob) Fyffe, a grazier from Tocumwal, NSW, served with the Tocumwal troop of the 20th Light Horse prior to WWII (1939-46). He enlisted at the outbreak of war and served with the 9th Division Cavalry Regiment in North Africa. During the attack on Trig 22 on 17 July 1942 Captain Fyffe commanding a composite squadron manoeuvred his tanks to knock out machine guns and anti-tank guns enabling 2/32 Battalion to capture the objective. Captain Fyffe was awarded the Military Cross for his leadership and courage in the action. This was 9th Division Cavalry's first tank action of the war. 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, as 20th Motor Regiment. In 1943 the regiment was deployed to Merauke, Dutch New Guinea. Upon return to Australia in 1945 it was redesignated 20th Pioneer Battalion and disbanded at the end of the war. 20th Light Horse was the only light horse unit to serve overseas in WWII.

Silver plated tankard with engraving on side.

20th LH / Officers Mess / Presented by Lieutenant H G Fyffe

fyffe, 20th, light horse

These booklets were issued to officers serving in areas where it was envisaged it might be necessary to deploy troops to assist civilian police and authorities to maintain law and order.

Small green covered book with title 'Aid to the Civil Power'. Staple bound. Manuscript name 'Clarke' on top right cover.

Clarke

civil power, military

The 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Museum has had three iterations: Buna Barracks Albury 1988-2000; Building 105 North Bandiana 2003-2009. The latest installation was officially opened at Simpson Barracks 8 December 2019.

Heavy card covered book with leather covering on corners and spine, being Visitors book for 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Museum from 1991 to 2009.

visit, museum, victorian mounted rifles

9th Australian Light Horse was raised in South Australia and western Victoria. It was part of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade and served on Gallipoli, Egypt and Palestine.

World War One British War Medal 1914-1918 and Victory Medal awarded to Regimental No 2805 Driver J T Bowden 9th Australian Light Horse.

wwi, world war one, light horse, bowden

Framed colour portrait of Major Reg McDermott who following Would War Two service in 2/8th Infantry Battalion joined 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles and was Squadron Commander 'C' Squadron 1953-57.

world war two, wwii, mcdermott

Official AMF publication dated 1934, probably prepared for the training of officers in tactics.

Soft covered book, 250 pages and numerous maps causing it to bulge. Stapled along left edge. Is a study of the actions and movements of the British Expeditionary Forces during the first two months of the First World War.

world war one, wwi, bef, france, belgium

An official AMF publication issued to all Australian servicemen and women just prior to their deployment to South Vietnam during the war in that country. Contains information about the culture of the country, aspects of the armed forces of USA, Republic of South Vietnam and the Viet Cong and North Vietnam Army. Details of weapons likely to be encountered.

Green soft covered book titled 'Pocketbook South Vietnam', saddled stitched and stapled, 74 pages.

vietnam war, weapons, language, customs

Red covered 4-ring binder containing documents relating to Boer War soldiers from Victoria. Index sheet in attached pdf document.

boer war, maygar, hillier, ramsay, haycroft

Soft cover 72 page booklet stapled along left side. Cover has image of George Lambert's painting: The charge of the Australian Light Horse at Beersheba, 31 October 1917". The booklet is a compilation of various official documents and articles from publications to give serving soldiers a history and heritage of their regiment which was formed on 1 April 1991 with the linking of 4/19 Prince of Wales's Light Horse and 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles.

pwlh, vmr, history

This is a supplement to Winty Calder's earlier work 'Heroes and Gentlemen'. Thomas Caradoc Rose Price CB, often known as Colonel Tom Price, was an Australian soldier, and acting commandant of the Commonwealth Military Forces in Victoria in 1902. Joining the British Indian Army in his early years, he served 20 years in India before returning to Australia. In 1885, he raised the Victorian Mounted Rifles, and was instrumental in establishing the concept of light horse units within the Australian Army. In 1900, he led a Victorian contingent during the Second Boer War, and was the only Australian officer during that war to command a force of British regulars. He remained in the Australian military after the war, serving in Queensland until 1904 when he was medically discharged. He retired to Victoria again and died in 1911 at the age of 68.

Soft cover book with adhesive binding on spine, A4 size, 56 pages being a collection of addresses and letters of Colonel Tom Price, compiled by Winty Calder, published by Jimaringle Publications 1985. Gift letter on reverso of front cover.

Presented to the 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Royal Australian Armoured Corps as a memorial to Colonel Tom Price and the original Victorian Mounted Rifles and as a tribute to the men who carry on a fine tradition. Winty Calder 4 October 1985.

price, calder, vmr, victorian mounted rifles

The India Medal was a campaign medal approved in 1896 for issue to officers and men of the British and Indian armies. The India Medal was awarded for various minor military campaigns in India, chiefly for service on the North-West Frontier during 1895 to 1902. This medal replaced the India General Service Medal (1854). Each campaign was represented by a clasp on the ribbon; seven were sanctioned.

White metal medal with maroon and black striped ribbon.

india, 1895, north west frontier, british army

Waterloo Medal 1815. It was announced in the London Gazette on 23 April 1816 that the Prince Regent had been graciously pleased, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to confer The Waterloo Medal upon every officer, non-commissioned officer and soldier of the British Army (including members of the King's German Legion) who took part in one or more of the following battles: Ligny (16 June 1815), Quatre Bras (16 June 1815) and Waterloo (18 June 1815).

White metal medal with red and black ribbon attached.

waterloo, british army, 1815

World War One Victory Medal awarded to 2035 R B Griffin 2 Field Artillery Battery AIF. Griffin also served in 2nd Garrison Battalion in World War Two.

world war one, wwi

The Crimea Medal was a campaign medal approved on 15 December 1854, for issue to officers and men of British units (land and naval) which fought in the Crimean War of 1854–56 against Russia. The medal was awarded with the British version of the Turkish Crimea Medal, but when a consignment of these was lost at sea, some troops received the Sardinian version.

Silver medal with yellow and grey ribbon. Possibly replica.

crimean war, medal

The Atlantic Star was instituted in May 1945 to honour those who took part in the Battle of the Atlantic and was intended primarily for award to those who served in shipping convoys and their escorts and anti-submarine forces, as well as to those who served on fast merchant ships which sailed alone. The Battle of the Atlantic took place between 3 September 1939 and 8 May 1945, as German U-boats attacked convoys transporting vital supplies from America and the Colonies to Britain. Warships of the Royal Navy and aircraft of the Royal Air Force escorted these convoys, hunted the U-boats and, despite some notable successes by the U-boats, eventually won a comprehensive victory in the Atlantic.

Group of three World War Two medals awarded to J Pritchard Merchant Navy: Atlantic Star, Pacific Star and Australian Service Medal 39-45.

atlantic, merchant navy, world war two, wwii

Group of three World War Two medals awarded to 408911 J J Maginnity; Defence Medal 39-45, British War Medal 39-45, Australian Service Medal 39-45.

world war two, wwii, maginnity, medal

The silver or bronze medal was awarded to officers and men of the British and Imperial Forces who either entered a theatre of war or entered service overseas between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918 inclusive. This was later extended to services in Russia, Siberia and some other areas in 1919 and 1920. Approximately 6.5 million British War Medals were issued. Approximately 6.4 million of these were the silver versions of this medal. Around 110,000 of a bronze version were issued mainly to Chinese, Maltese and Indian Labour Corps. The front (obv or obverse) of the medal depicts the head of George V. The recipient’s service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.

World War One British War Medal 1914-1918 awarded to 260268 Private J Whittaker. Medal is attached to board with thumb tack through ribbon.

bwm, medal, world war one, wwi