LIGHT HORSE RETURNS TO BRIGHT AFTER 100 YEARS

A four-man section of the 8th Indi Light Horse led the 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse when it exercises its freedom of entry to Bright on Saturday 28 October 2023. It was almost 100 years since a light horse troop was located in the township.

The riders who were all former serving members of the 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles. The 8/13 VMR linked with the 4/19 PWLH to form the current regiment in 1991. The last light horse in the northeast Victorian town was the Bright Troop of the Indi Light Horse, 16th and 8th regiments, which existed between 1908 and 1925.

Section of light horse commanded by Sergeant Adrian Younger leading the 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse Regiment in its Freedom of Entry march at Bright, 28 October 2023. Section is drawn from the 8th Indi Light Horse Heritage Troop located at Wangaratta.

The practice of Freedom of Entry originated in medieval Europe, when a special privilege of entry within the walls of a city might be granted to a band of armed men when it was decided by the city authorities that the group was disciplined and unlikely to engage in disorderly conduct or worse, rape and pillage. The Freedom of Entry parchment permitted the armed band to march through the town ‘with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating, bands playing, colours flying and in full panoply or regalia. The practice is now ceremonial, representing the highest honour which can be bestowed on a military unit by a city or town.

On 28 October, in addition to the light horse section, 4/19 PWLH had 50 soldiers, two Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles (PMV), and the Army Band from Kapooka. The regimental guidon with an escort of sergeants was located in the centre of the marching group.

Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle (PMV) is standard equipment for 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. Two of these vehicles featured in the Freedom of Entry march at Bright 28 October 2023. These armoured personnel carrier vehicles are designed to carry and rapidly deploy up to 10 battle-ready soldiers. he four-wheel-drive vehicles are designed for all environments and are blast-resistant. Retired Australian Army major general Mick Ryan describes Bushmasters as a "wonderful Australian-designed and built machine". They have been used by Australian forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The regimental guidon of the 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse is one of, if not the most decorated guidon in the Australian Army. It carries campaign and battle honours from the South African War (Boer War), World Wars One and Two, and the Vietnam conflict. It incorporates the colour patches of six light horse regiments and three armoured regiments.

The current regiment came into existence in 1991 when two regiments raised in 1948, 4/19 PWLH and 8/13 VMR were linked to form one new regiment. It is now the only active regiment in the British Commonwealth with the title ‘Prince of Wales’s.

The title dates to 1862 when a regiment of volunteer cavalry in the Kyneton area adopted the title Prince of Wales’s Light Horse Hussars. The title descended to the current regiment through the 17th Light Horse (Prince of Wales’s Light Horse). The badge of the regiment reflects that association.

The badge of the 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse, an Australian Army Reserve cavalry regiment, features three ostrich feathers fanning out from a crown and two horses on a boomerang base, along with two wings bearing the Prince of Wales’s motto "Ich Dien" . The badge was adopted circa 1955 to replace the silver Rising Sun . The regimental colour patch is sewn to the puggaree. It is the patch of the 4th Light Horse AIF. The colour split is in the opposite direction from other Light Horse regiments because the 4th was the Divisional cavalry of the 1st Division AIF.

Tradition has it that the three-plume crest and motto come from the 100 Years War and the Battle of Crecy in 1346, fought between the English and French. Blind John, King of Bohemia and Duke of Luxembourg was killed fighting on the French side. The sixteen-year-old heir to the English throne, Edward the Black Prince was also present at the battle. It is believed he gathered the fallen nobleman’s helmet from the battlefield. So impressed was he with the courage and dedication to duty of the dead King John that he adopted the crest and motto as his own.

Northeast Victoria has a long association with the light horse. There were detachments of the Victorian Mounted Rifles centred on Benalla and Euroa prior to Federation. Following Federation these detachments were grouped to form the 8th Light Horse Regiment (VMR).

Following the introduction of universal training in 1912 there was a rapid increase in the numbers to be trained. Concurrently a restructure of the light horse units in Victoria resulted in the 8th being renumbered 16th Light Horse and given the territorial title ‘Indi’. With a squadron headquarters at Wangaratta, troops were formed in towns including Corryong, Tallangatta, Chiltern, Rutherglen, Beechworth, Myrtleford and Bright.

Group photograph of ‘B’ Troop ‘C’ Squadron 16th Indi Light Horse Regiment taken at Beechworth 5 August 1914 which was two days after the outbreak of World War One (WWI). The Bright Troop was a sub-unit of ‘C’ Squadron, but it is not known if it formed ‘B’ Troop.

Many men went on to serve with the Light Horse in France and the Middle East during World War One, 1914-18.

In 1920, following the war, the Light Horse regiments in Victoria were renumbered yet again. The 16th reverted to 8th Light Horse (Indi). The Bright troop however faded. Its decline mirrored the decline in population in all the old gold mining areas. After 1926 the closest unit was the troop at Myrtleford.

At the dinner following the march the 8/13 VMR Association presented a plaque to Alpine Shire commemorating the Bright Troop of the Indi Light Horse and marking the occasion of the Freedom of Entry. The plaque is to be affixed in a prominent location near the Clock Tower in the centre of Bright.

MUSEUM REPORT PRESENTED AT AGM, 24 May 2022

The 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Museum at Simpson Barracks is complete. It is something to be proud of and a tribute to our soldiers past, and an inspiration to soldiers of the future. When are we going to have an Association bus tour to see it?

Some statistics on the project:

·       Man-hours worked             1,660 hours

·       Trips to Simpson               4 x overnight and 9 x day trips

·       Loads                               22 trailer loads and 3 truck loads

·       Expenditure                      $4,100

·       Value of fit out alone with new materials and labour @ $20/hr is $50,000, many thousands more if we include the value of the objects on display.

When we started the project, we had eleven volunteer regulars. With death, ageing and ill health we now have six. Our average age is 80.

Two museum volunteers Robert Dawe and Maurice Greene at the museum workshop at Latchford Barracks preparing a trailer load for transport to the museum at Simpson Barracks. Twenty-two trailer loads and 3 truck loads were required to move prefabricated cases and cabinets together with display objects to the museum site.

Concurrent with the museum work, a digitisation program was conducted resulting in 1506 objects and photographs being made available on the internet through Victorian Collections. There is a link on the Association website; <813vmr.org>. The Digitisation Team has been short listed 4 years running in the Australian Museums and Galleries Association (AMaGA) Victoria, Excellence in Cataloguing (Military Heritage Section), taking out the award in 2020, and being Highly Commended in 2021.

Digitisation team Gordon Cole, Doug Hunter (standing) and Brian Gibson. Gordon was responsible for photograph and document scanning, Doug for research and Brian for data entry to the catalogue.

We have cleared the store area at Building 129 North Bandiana and vacated the building in accordance with our agreement with Assets Management AWMA. Also the workshop area in 2 Troop Hanger at Latchford Barracks has been cleared of all scrap material.

Museum volunteer Graham Garvie put the finishing touch to the clean up at the workshop area in the 2 Troop Hanger at Latchford Barracks where the prefabrication of the cases and cabinets for the museum was carried out.

With a project like this there is always some small adjustments which can be made. For example, we have a three-mannequin display: Honorary Colonels General ‘Tack’ Hammer and Hon Sir David Fairbairn, and Lieutenant Leslie Maygar VC in Boer War era uniform. In retrospect, it is thought it might be better to replace Maygar for Honorary Colonel John Neale. This would give continuity to the display as three Honorary Colonels. The Maygar uniform is not a particularly good one and we have a portrait of Maygar which can be displayed elsewhere.

There is still work to be done at Latchford Barracks. Firstly, the cases in the 2 Troop lecture room need attention mainly to improve interpretive tickets. And secondly the state of the Staghound on display at the entrance to the 4/19 area. The vehicle’s tyres are collapsing so there is an urgent need for action to place it on a concrete slab and vehicle stands. A coat of paint wouldn’t hurt either. This is a task beyond the capability of the current museum team.

UPDATE to 8/13 Museum Report of 22 July 2022

·       Twenty-five members of the 8/13 Association visited the Museums on Sunday 7 August. 4/19 volunteers made administrative arrangements and provided tea, coffee and biscuits. Visitors brought a cut lunch.

·       The visitors were treated to a guided tour of both museum facilities and spent time browsing.

·       Responses were mostly favourable.

·       8/13 museum team took the opportunity to make minor repairs to display items and to install the uniform of Colonel John Neale alongside two other honorary colonels.

Honorary Colonel John Neale’s uniform now displayed alongside that of Honorary Colonel Sir David Fairbairn, completing a display of three Honorary Colonels. This work was carried out during the Association bus tour 7 August 2022.

·       The Howard binoculars and spurs were installed in the 8th Light Horse Case following the presentation by Major John Baines on behalf of the Finlayson Trust.

·       Regrettably there was insufficient time for the visitors to form work parties to dust, sweep floors, polish Perspex panels and install fresh mothball canisters. This will be prioritised next visit.

View of the Howard binoculars and case, and spurs displayed on a raised platform in the 8th Light Horse case above the hat worn at the Nek by Trooper Alexander Borthwick.

View of the Archive and Storage area at the museum. Filing cabinets containing binders of photographs and folders of documents; vertical racks hold framed artworks; plastic tubs on back wall contain objects for temporary exhibitions; chest freezer is for insect control.

RECENT ADDITIONS TO MUSEUM

The museum staff took the opportunity during the recent 8/13 VMR Association bus trip, 7 August 2022, to adjust the display. A uniform worn by Colonel John Neale was placed on display alongside uniforms worn by two other Honorary Colonels, Sir David Fairbairn and Major General H H (Tack) Hammer. The other change was the installation of an elevated stand in the 8th Light Horse case to display binoculars and spurs belonging to Lieutenant Thomas Howard who was killed at the Nek, 7 August 1915.

John Neale served with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) during World War Two, having enlisted as 16-year-old. His service was at shore and ship stations in northern Australia.

Framed photograph of Lieutenant Colonel J A Neale when commanding 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Regiment.

Portrait is on display with other COs & OCs in 8/13 VMR History Room Simpson Barracks.

Following the war, he began an illustrious CMF career, enlisting as a trooper in 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles in 1948, serving in non-commissioned and commissioned ranks finally rising to command the regiment 1969-76, including a period of full-time duty in South Vietnam. He then served as Honorary Colonel of the regiment, 1986-92.

Service dress tunic worn by Colonel J A Neale when Honorary Colonel 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles 1986-1992. Uniform now on display in Case 5, 8/13 VMR History Room Simpson Barracks.

Colonel Neale was instrumental in the formation of the Regimental Association and the establishment of the Regimental Museum.

The binoculars and spurs in the 8th Light Horse case belonged to Lieutenant Thomas Spencer Howard 8th Australian Light Horse Regiment. Howard was killed in action in the charge at the Nek, on 7 August 1915. The presentation plaque on the binocular case reads: ‘Lieut TS Howard 8th LH, 3rd Aust Imp Exped’y Force, From Chief and Staff of J.F.C. Jan 1915’

Binoculars in case with engraved presentation plaque. The binoculars were presented to Lieutenant Thomas S Howard prior to his departure with the 8th Australian Light Horse Regiment during World War One.

These spurs were part of the kit of Lieutenant Thomas S Howard 8th Australian Light Horse Regiment. They were returned to his family following his death at the Nek, Gallipoli, 7 August 1915. They are now on display in Case 17, 8/13 VMR History Room Simpson Barracks.

In July 2022, both items were offered for sale on eBay. They were purchased by the Finlayson Trust and presented to the 8/13 VMR History Room for display. They complement another Nek relic already on display, the hat worn by Trooper Alexander Borthwick at the charge.

John Baines, on behalf of the Finlayson Trust, presents the Howard binoculars and spurs to Graham Garvie, curator of the 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Regimental Collection, 7 August 2022. The items are now on display in Case 17, 8/13 VMR History Room, Simpson Barracks.

VALE BRIAN GIBSON

Regimental Museum staff member and life-member of the 8/13 VMR Regimental Association Kelvin Brian (Brian) Gibson passed away 3 May 2022 at Albury Base Hospital after a very short illness. Brian joined the Museum staff fifteen years ago and made a significant contribution in cataloguing the collection. He was a member of the award-winning digitisation team.

Brian Gibson at his desk entering data on the Victorian Collections web site. Brian was a member of the team which won the award for Excellence in Cataloguing (Military Heritage Section) at AMaGA (Vic) awards night 2020, and was Highly Commended in 2021.

Brian did his National Service training in Queensland and served with Signals and RACT units prior to relocating with his employment first to Geelong then Albury. He was a long-serving secretary and life-member of the Murray Border Nashos.

Brian’s funeral was held at St Patricks Church Albury 12 May. Kozzie Carey, Maurice Greene, Robert Dawe and Doug Hunter, representing the Museum Team, and John Baines representing the Association, attended. Graham Garvie led the National Servicemen’s Tribute Service.

VALE LEN SHEFFORD

Len Shefford joined 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles in 1964. He was 20 years old and straight from a 3 year stint in the Australian Regular Army. He made the transition from ARA to CMF, a not always easy experience, and settled into the unit equipped with White Scout Cars and Humber 1 ton trucks, shortly to change to Centurion Mark 5 tanks.

Lieutenant Len Shefford supervising the mess table during a hasty pause during exercise at Annual Camp.

Len’s intelligence and application was noted and he progressed through the ranks, being a sergeant D&S instructor in 1968. He was commissioned as a lieutenant in 1974 and posted as a troop leader. In 1980, his civilian work commitments made it necessary for him to transfer to the inactive list.

Regimental journal “Sabre” edited by Len Shefford. This one issued at Annual Camp 1976. The humerous cover was a feature of the publication.

Len will be remembered by many for his editorship of the regimental journal “Sabre”. Published using unit resources several times a year, especially at annual camp, “Sabre” , was a subtle mix of information for the soldier, humour, cartoons and serious teaching material.

Who can forget the cartoon of a demon crew in a White with the caption “I rode shotgun for Heckle Maguire!”.

Len died suddenly and quite unexpectedly on 23 December 2021. The regiment was represented at his funeral on 6 January 2022.

FIRST HALF YEAR MUSEUM PROGRESS AT SIMPSON BARRACKS

COVID-19 meant that 2020 was a washout in terms of the Museum team visiting Melbourne and continuing the installation of the exhibition. Work at Bandiana and Latchford Barracks was interrupted by lockdowns and state border restrictions, but it was possible to finish building the new cabinets and prepare for the day when a trip to Simpson was possible. Importantly our team of volunteers remained cheerful, positive and considering our age remarkably healthy.

Museum volunteers who worked throughout 2020 and 2021. The photograph was taken outside Building 129 North Bandiana where the heritage collection has been in storage since it was necessary to vacate the the previous museum location in 2009. From left, standing: Gordon Cole, Graham Garvie, Doug Hunter, Robert Dawe; Seated: Kozzie Carey, Brian Gibson, Maurice Greene.

Museum volunteers Robert Dawe and Kozzie Carey with partly assembled uniform cabinets. Cabinets were constructed of plywood and chipboard. Solid timber facing, rebated to take perspex sheeting, was added later.

Museum volunteers Robert Dawe and Kozzie Carey positioning and fixing farrier’s tools to the display board. Tools were fixed in place with copper wire ties. The workshop where cabinets were constructed or refurbished was at the 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse depot at Latchford Barracks, Bonegilla.

On a brighter note, the Digitisation team managed the 2020 disruption better than most. It was able to add 300 more entries to our catalogue at Victorian Collections. The team won the award for Excellence in Cataloguing (War Heritage section) for the year. [See previous post]

In early 2021, Melbourne was again open. On 24 February a very welcome team from 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse Museum came up and took two truckloads of cabinets, objects and archival material to Simpson for us. Our installation team followed with two trailer loads of more stuff and spent two days working industriously on site. The regiment arranged for us to be accommodated at the Barracks and we were able to eat at the Officers’ Mess.

First lift to Simpson for 2021. It had not been possible to visit Melbourne during 2020 owing to measures to control the outbreak of COVID-19. On 24 February, a team of 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse Light Horse staff and museum volunteers led by 4/19 Museum curator David Key (right) brought two vehicles a truck and a van to Latchford Barracks where loading was done.

The truck took the larger items while the van was stacked full of boxes and tubs containing the display objects both in the passenger compartment and the cargo space at the rear.

In April, a second overnight trip was possible. On this occasion a Thrifty rent-a-truck was hired to transport the remaining cabinets and objects. These included the horse for the light horseman exhibit. Yet even with the truck filled to capacity it was not possible to take everything.

Museum volunteers Robert Dawe and Gordon Cole loading the Thrifty hire truck at Latchford Barracks. The first item to be loaded was our full size horse mannequin. Other objects in the eclectic load included a chest freezer, used to control insect infestation in uniforms, and the steel framing for a storage rack.

At the end of this visit the museum had really taking shape. The uniform cases were filled, the horse and farrier section completed, the double-sided cabinet filled with regimental silver and trophies, and portraits of COs and OCs hung. Our massive archive and photograph collections were on site ready to be placed back into the four-drawer cabinets and the racking in the storage area was assembled.

Uniform cabinet No 2 with three uniformed mannequins in tanksuit c, 1985, Heritage Troop uniform and VMR Squadron trooper on fulltime duty with INTERFET in East Timor. Cabinet is flanked by display of saddle-cloths of 8th, 13th and 20th Light Horse regiments and a Model 1908 cavalry sword as carried by light horse in latter part of WWI and in the 1920-1940 period.

Museum volunteers Graham Garvie and Kozzie Carey assembling the farrier’s forge as part of the display of farrier’s tools. The display highlights the changing role of support services without which the regiment cannot operate. Horse feed has given way to diesel; farriers have become RAEME tradesmen.

Double sided display cabinet containing silverware and trophies relating to light horse regiments of the lineage of 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles. The earliest is a trophy presented to the 10th Light Horse (VMR) by The Hon William Pearson MLC, Honorary Colonel, for annual competition by teams of 1 Officer and 13 Men. 17 Oct 1907. Also on display are items of monogrammed crockery made for the 13th Light Horse Officers’ Mess.

Museum volunteers who did the April installation: Gordon Cole, Robert Dawe, Kozzie Carey and Graham Garvie. Fifth member Doug Hunter took the photograph. The horse with the camouflaged cover is still to have its rider mounted.

Another couple of trips are necessary, but COVID-19 restrictions are again making that difficult. Hopefully the situation will improve and there will be opportunities in the last quarter of the year.

AWARD FOR CATALOGUING EXCELLENCE 2020

8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles Regimental Collection was adjudged winner of the War Heritage category for Excellence in Cataloguing at the 2020 Australian Museums and Galleries Association (aMaGa) (Victoria) awards night on Tuesday 8 December. The digitisation program was undertaken by volunteers Brian Gibson, Gordon Cole and Doug Hunter.

Digitisation team: Gordon Cole, Doug Hunter, Brian Gibson

The award acknowledges the hard work undertaken by our team in documenting and preserving our heritage materials using Victorian Collections. The winner was chosen based on the quality, quantity and public accessibility of collection entries produced over a 12-month period across 2019 and 2020.

Just a reminder that the link to our collection is on the home page of this website.

8/13 VMR MUSEUM OPENED 8 DECEMBER 2019

A feature of the 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse Open Day, 2019, was the official opening of the VMR Museum at Simpson Barracks, Watsonia. Mrs Joan Finlayson, ably assisted by the Honorary Colonel, Major General G Garde, cut the ribbon. She also unveiled a plaque recording this occasion to be the third occasion on which the museum has been opened, each time in a different location.

Mrs Joan Finlayson and Major General Greg Garde ready to step forward to cut the ribbon to open the 8/13 VMR Museum at Simpson Barracks. At left are CO 4/19 PWLH Lieutenant Colonel John Pearse and Lieutenant Colonel (Ret’d) Doug Hunter, Chair of 8/13 VMR Trustees. Mr D Finlayson is standing behind his mother.

The first museum was developed at Buna Barracks, Albury, and opened on 1 May 1988 by Colonel GK Howard, Director RAAC. When the Squadron relocated to North Bandiana the museum was rebuilt in Building 105 and reopened on 2 August 2003 by Major General RP Irving, Commander 2nd Division. Regrettably this building had to be closed in April 2009 and the museum collection placed in storage.

King’s Banners presented to 8th Light Horse Regiment for service in Boer War, presented 1904, and World War 1, presented 1920. These Banners were originally laid up in Trinity Church Benalla, but during extensive renovations to the church they were passed to the 8th/13th VMR Museum. Similar Banners were presented to the 13th Light Horse Regiment, but unfortunately all trace of them has been lost.

The colour patches beneath are those of the 8th, 13th and 20th Light Horse regiments.

Guidons of the 8th Light Horse Regiment, 13th Light Horse Regiment and 20th Light Horse Regiments. They carry battle honours from the Boer War, World War 1 and World War 2

The Honour Boards beneath relate to the World War 2 service of the regiments.

The Memorial Board at left honours all who served in the Victorian Mounted Rifles in its 135 year history. The board was reworked from a board originally housed in the Methodist Church Albury. The church closed in 1994.

The case at centre houses gifts from affiliated regiments: 8th Kings Royal Irish Hussars and 14th/20th Hussars.

Surrounding the case, from top left, are the World War 2 colour patches of 2/8th Armoured Regiment, 41st, 42nd & 43rd Water Transport Companies, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 20th Motor Regiment and 13th Armoured Regiment. Hanging on side wall is an illuminated role of 7th Light Horse Regiment 1907.

After nine years in storage with no prospect of a building becoming available and with the volunteer staff ageing and experiencing declining health, CO 4th/19th faced with the prospect of the collection being lost, made available a building at Simpson Barracks, Watsonia. A year of hard work supported by the regiment saw phase 1 of the redevelopment complete, making a reopening possible.

Storage in basement of Building 129, North Bandiana with one of the museum volunteers (the late) John Bauerle sorting papers. The collection is stored in poor quality containers and shelving, but more importantly the photo highlights our other problem, the loss of our valuable volunteer base. Regrettably, John passed away shortly after the photo was taken. With him died decades of knowledge of the regiment.

Mrs Finlayson is a member of the 2nd/8th Armoured Regiment Association, her husband Arch having been a member of the regiment during World War Two. She has been and continues to be a generous supporter of both 8th/13th and 4th/19th museums. It was a pleasure to have her conduct the opening.

Mrs Finlayson beside the case containing uniforms and memorabilia of the 2/8th Armoured Regiment AIF. Mrs Finlayson’s husband Arch served in the regiment.

This exhibition commemorates and celebrates all who have served in the Victorian Mounted Rifles during its one hundred- and thirty-five-year history, and in its many forms and roles: Victorian Colonial Forces and Australian Military Forces; horse mounted and mechanised; in peace and at war.

Side cases containing uniforms of two former Honorary Colonels of 8/13 VMR: Sir David Fairbairn and Major General HH (Tack) Hammer. Above the cases is a march banner of the 13th Australian Light Horse Association.

Highlights of the exhibition include Honour boards, Guidons, King’s Banners, gifts from affiliated British regiments, memorabilia of our contingents and regiments raised for the Boer War and First and Second World Wars.

Plans are in place to develop and install phase 2 of the museum in 2020. Phase 2 will concentrate on the forty-plus year post-World War Two period when the 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was active in Northeast Victoria and Southern NSW.

MUSEUM AT SIMPSON

Work continues on the 8/13 VMR museum at Simpson Barracks, Watsonia. The installation team has been down and installed the Honour Wall. The team consisting of Robert Dawe, Graham Garvie, Kozzie Carey and Doug Hunter complete with two cars and trailers followed the loaded unit truck down and worked solidly for two days.

Before we started work. Doug Hunter, Robert Dawe and Graham Garvie standing against the wall where the prefabricated fixtures are to be installed.

Our earlier recce to take floor levels paid dividends. The prefabricated sections required only minor packing before they were fixed in place. Refurbishment of the building is still ongoing, so we were not able to fix the platforms along the end wall nor place the large cabinets in their final position. However, they are on site ready for our next visit scheduled for the end of the month.

Work in progress. Kozzie Carey and Graham Garvie with the first guidon case in place. It is amazing to see how good it looks considering it is all constructed out of second-hand and in many cases third-hand materials. A tribute to our workers.

Almost finished; skirting to be fixed and power boards installed. Cases will hold VMR flag, three guidons in centre group of cases and the end cabinet will hold gifts from affiliated regiments. These include a Crimea War busby, a silver rose bowl, an Hussar statuette and an LP record with regimental marches and messages from 8th Kings Royal Irish Hussars. Honour boards and colour patches of our precedent regiments will complete the wall. It should look stunning and honour all who served.

We are powering ahead at our Latchford Barracks workshop to have a full second load of fittings including the Kings Banners case, the Farriers Tool display and forge, and display cases, large and small ready, for uplift. With a bit of luck we might even have the horse and rider ready to go. December 8, the Unit’s Open Day, is still our scheduled opening day.

SERVICE AT THE MEMORIAL TANK NORTH BANDIANA

Thirty members and friends of the Regimental Association gathered at the Colonel John Neale Centurion Tank on Tuesday 30 April 2019. John Baines was MC, Gordon Cole spoke on the career of Colonel John Neale, Graham Garvie gave a history of tank No 169073 and Ian Docking recited the Ode.

Major Gordon Cole RFD (Ret’d) speaking about the career of Colonel John Neale OAM RFD ED

Among the members from outlying districts were Kelvin Robertson, Craig Aughtie, Paul Burchatt, Peter Branagan and Robert Morrison.

Centurion 169073 served the nation well as a training vehicle and on active service in South Vietnam. It was a great improvement on the General Grant tank with a bigger gun and the ability to fire accurately while moving.

Serving soldiers of regiments such as 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles were converted to the new tank and National Servicemen received full-time training while at Puckapunyal.

In February 1968, C Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment, equipped with Centurion tanks was sent to Vietnam. Our tank was one of the twenty which served in Vietnam.

There were many doubters about the likely usefulness of the Centurion in the jungle and paddy field environment of South Vietnam. How would this very large tank perform?

No one needed to have worried. The tanks performed magnificently and were treasured by the infantry with whom they operated. ‘Tanks save lives’ was the catchcry.

Several Reserve officers were attached to the Squadron in Vietnam including Colonel John Neale and Major Gordon Cole.

Members of the Association standing in front of the Memorial Tank following the Service.

In 1989, when most of the Centurion fleet was sold off, No 169073 was allocated to 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles as a heritage vehicle. It was first displayed at Buna Barracks Albury and in 2000 moved to its current location at North Bandiana.

A lunch at the Blazing Stump Hotel, Thomas Mitchell Drive Wodonga, followed the service.

ASSOCIATION CHRISTMAS LUNCH 2018

Twenty-nine Association members and partners gathered at the SS&A for our end-of-year get-together, Tuesday 11 December. Graham and Judi Garvie had decorated the tables with 8th/13th VMR table runners and red and yellow serviettes. It looked good and the meal served from the Club’s new kitchen was enjoyable.

Trevor & Pat Spokes, Pauline & Maurice Greene, Graham & Judi Garvie, Sue Russell, Marlene & Brian Gibson.

Lyn Larkin, Shirley & Kevin Monte, Rob Dawe, Don (obscured) & Mrs Ross, Kozzie & Elizabeth Carey, Jan Hunter.

Lesley (just out of shot, sorry) & Rob Parkinson, John Warren (obscured) John Baines, Ian & Pat Docking, Steve Earles, Gordon Cole. (We need a better photographer!)

President, John Baines welcomed everyone; Doug Hunter gave a short resume of what goes on at the Museum each Tuesday; Graham Garvie gave the toast to absent friends noting the passing of Jim Allard and John Clay. John Baines led the Ode.

John concluded the luncheon by wishing everyone an enjoyable Christmas and the best for the forthcoming year.

NEK COMMEMORATION 2018

The high light of this years Nek Commemoration was a visit to Puckapunyal where the Regiment was training. Following a substantial lunch at the RAAC Officers Mess we were bussed to the unit HQ on the Range. A briefing, then an introduction to the Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle (PMV) and a drive round the range.

Driving technique developed in Afghanistan where following in the tracks of the vehicle in front is the best way to avoid mines does not translate well to the wet spongy soil of Pucka. The downside was we were bogged, but the upside was a recovery demonstration. Unfortunately, the visit to the cavalry scouts practising tracking was abandoned when the heavens opened and rain and hail bucketed down.

Bogged and not going anywhere on Pucka Range.

Recovery in progress. This was very familiar to old 8/13 VMR soldiers.

The Bushmaster is an Australian-built four wheeled, all-wheel drive armoured vehicle. In addition to the Australian Army it is in service with the Japan Ground Self Defence Force, Fiji Infantry Regiment, Jamaica Defence Force and the New Zealand Army. It is the first armoured vehicle to be designed and completely manufactured in Australia since the Sentinel tank during World War II.

The Bushmaster is fitted with a forward gun ring for a 5.56mm or 7.62mm machine gun. The vehicle's armour provides protection against small arms fire, mortar fragments, Claymore mines, but most importantly it provides excellent protection against land mines. The v-hull monocoque deflects the blast away from the vehicle and its occupants.

The role of the Bushmaster is to provide protected mobility transport for infantry, or in the case of 4/19 PWLH, cavalry scouts. It is not an armoured personal carrier designed to carry infantry to a dismount point just short of, or on the objective.

Currently 4/19 PWLH has 17 Bushmasters and this number will increase leading up to next year when the Regiment will provide the Cav Scout capability to 1st Armoured Regiment at Exercise ‘Talisman Sabre’, the bi-annual joint exercise with USA and NZ units.

The soldiers have not lost the skill to live well in the field. This is a hoochi with a swag. Incidentally they are not allowed to dig shell scrapes or trenches on the Range!

This is the hammock model hoochi. Both models would have been well tested with the overnight rain.

AWARD NOMINATION

We have received news that 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regimental Collection has been nominated for the Victorian Collections Award for Excellence in Museum Cataloguing (War Heritage Collection).

The award will be judged on the number of artifacts cataloged, the proportion of items catalogued with accompanying photos, the quality of the records, the depth of historical research involved and the percentage of records made public.

The winner of the award will be announced at the Victorian Museum Awards night, Wednesday 29 August 2018.

Post Awards Night

We were not judged the winner for the award, but it was good to be listed among the five nominees. Look out next year!

Annual General Meeting Report

There were eighteen members in attendance at the AGM held at Anzac House Albury on Tuesday 15 May 2018.

Election of office bearers for 2018-19:

The following were elected as office bearers and committee for the 2018-19 year:

President John Baines; Vice-president Adrian Younger: Minute Secretary Andrew Frazer; Newsletter distributor Michael Prestianni; Treasurer Doug Hunter; and Committee members: Graham Garvie, Ian Docking, Maurice Greene, Shane Walch, Gordon Cole, Robert Dawe, and subject to their acceptance, Jim Begley and Clive Faul.

The notional Social calendar includes:

Latchford Troop visit to be arranged in June/July; Nek Dinner this year to be with the regiment on a training exercise in the field; RAACA Cambrai Dinner; Xmas luncheons to be arranged in Albury and Wangaratta; Regimental birthday to be arranged for May 2019. Further information on these activities is to be distributed as it becomes available.

Merchandise:

Association ties still available; Name badges can be provided on order; VMR hat badges are in very limited supply and are to be sold only to ex-VMR members.

Museum Curator:

Graham Garvie was appointed to the position of Museum Curator which fell vacant upon the death of John Bauerle.

Life member:

Lieutenant Colonel Jim Allard was made a life member of the 8/13 VMR Regimental Association. Lt Col Allard is the last surviving Commanding Officer of the regiment.

VALE JOHN BAUERLE

John Bauerle passed away on 28 March at the Cancer Centre Albury after a long struggle with the disease. John began his career with 8/13th as a regimental cadet in 1952 at the age of 15. He did his National Service training at Puckapunyal in 1957 and returned to VMR as a Centurion gunner. He served a further six years attaining the rank of sergeant before his civil employment brought his service to an end.

John maintained a close contact with the regiment and in 1988 joined the museum volunteers, a connection he maintained till two weeks prior to his hospitalisation and subsequent death. His last task was an installation at SS&A Club Albury on 13 February. John took a leading role in the formation of the Albury-Wodonga branch of the National Servicemen’s’ Association serving 15 years as president.

John's funeral is to take place at St David's Church Albury at 2.00 pm Thursday 5 April.

OBJECT IN WEEK FOUR IN THE COLLECTION

This pair of brown leather officer's dress boots with strap-on spurs and leather instep patch and under sole chain come complete with matching left and right wooden stretchers and spreader wedges.They were owned by well known Australian soldier and politician tragically killed at commencement of Second World War.

Brigadier Geoffrey Austin Street MC served in WWI at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. Following the war he was placed on the Reserve of Officers. He returned to military service in 1931 as a Squadron Commander in the 4th Light Horse and after only 18 months was promoted to the command of the regiment. He went on to take command of the Third Cavalry Brigade which included the 8th, 13th and 20th Light Horse Regiments. Brigadier Street had entered Federal Parliament in 1934 and in November 1938 was seconded from military duties to serve as Minister for Defence in the Lyons Government . He was serving in this capacity in the Menzies government when he was killed in an air crash near Canberra on 13 August 1940.

OBJECT IN WEEK THREE IN THE COLLECTION

Captain Lyle Jackel of Wangaratta marked his 25 years service in 8/13 VMR, 1965-1990, by presenting an Officers Shooting Trophy. The trophy, a handsome decorative silver tray with raised edge is engraved giving details of the purpose and donor and the winners for each year of competition. It is also engraved on the underside.

The trophy was for the officer with the best aggregate small arms score at the annual range shoot. Captain John McLean was successful in 1990, 91 and 92. Captain Lyle Jackel prevailed in 1993 and Lieutenant Howard Burvill in 1994. There are no further winners details engraved on trophy following 1994 so it is possible the competition lapsed.

On the base of the tray the engraving says: “Those who beat their swords into ploughshares usually end up ploughing for those who kept their swords"

See more of our collection on <https://victoriancollections.net.au/organisations/8th13th-victorian-mounted-rifles-regimental-collection#collection-records>

OBJECT OF WEEK TWO IN THE COLLECTION

This week’s object is a rare, historic and artistic example of how one family sought to come to terms with the loss of their only child in the Great War 1914-1918.

The leather bound album, with its faded maroon cover, contains photographs taken by Signaller JC Campbell and typescripts of two letters written by Captain Mervin Higgins 8th Australian Light Horse AIF during WWI.

Captain Higgins survived Gallipoli and went on to serve in the Sinai desert. He was killed in action at Magdhaba on 23 December 1916. His father Mr Justice Higgins first attempted to have a headstone erected over his son's grave but this failed when it became apparent that the location of the grave site was uncertain and in fact lost. Justice Higgins then has a small number, possibly as few as six, memorial books made. It seems likely that this copy was given to the 8th Light Horse Association after the war and presented to 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles when the 8th Association closed.

OBJECT OF THE WEEK IN THE COLLECTION

This unusual flag is one of many objects in the local 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regimental Collection. It is a red ensign with a union flag canton and an emblem in the centre of the fly.

The emblem is a five pointed star surrounded by a motto “Heavens Light Our Guide” and set in a sunburst. Prior to 1947, it was the flag of British India at international events. It was superseded by the current Indian tricolour when India became independent.

The emblem and motto is that of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India established by Queen Victoria in 1861 shortly after the Indian Mutiny to honour Indian princes and chiefs, presumably those who had remained loyal to the crown, and British officers and administrators.

The use of English in the motto perhaps indicated English was the language of the British Empire superseding the Roman Empire with its Latin. The wording is sufficiently vague to include other faiths to which many Indian princes belonged.

How did it come into the Collection? That’s a good question. We are working on it.

ASSOCIATION CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON

Twenty-three members and partners enjoyed lunch at the Albury SS&A Club on Tuesday 12 December to mark the end of the year's work at the Regimental Collection Museum and to remember those of our number who have passed away in 2017. Association president John Baines spoke briefly on the contribution of Jack Larkin and Niel Russell. Work at the Museum resumes on Tuesday 16 January with the installation of a new exhibition at the SS&A Club and improvements to the display at 4th/19th PWLH depot at Latchford Barracks.. 

In picture: Trevor & Pat Spokes, Pauline Greene, Rob Dawe, Maurice Greene

In picture: Kevin Monte, Dianne & John Baines, Kozzie Carey, Brian Rowley & wife, John Warren and John Bauerle

In picture: Rob Dawe, Russ Johnston, Graham & Judi Garvie and Sue Russell