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.