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Most Australians who served in Armour during the Second World War did not have the chance to leave their country’s shores. By the time that peace came in August 1945, these men and their leaders were aware they might lose their identity as members of a unique army simply because, through no fault of their own, they had been unable to serve overseas.
To preserve and perpetuate both the Corps and the camaraderie that had evolved with it, a meeting was organised at Southport, Queensland. There on 28 September 1945, at the Headquarters of the 4th Australian Armoured Brigade Group, the Brigade Commander, Brigadier Denzil MacArthur-Onslow was the guiding light behind the formation of the Australian Armoured Corps Association. With interim controlling bodies nominated for each state, Lieutenant Horace Robertson, the widely known and revered “Red Robbie”, was appointed Federal President. The original Commander of the 1st Australian Armoured Division, Lieutenant General John Northcott, by then Chief of the General Staff, accepted the office of Patron.
Apart from the clear aim of reinforcing the comradeship of war service, the fledgling Association also intended to look to the welfare of its members and their dependants. It was early 1946 by the time the wartime soldiers had been demobilised and returned to their homes. At the Punt Road Drill Hall on 7 February 1946, the Victorian Branch held its inaugural meeting. In excess of 600 members met and elected Brigadier John Clareborough to the State Presidency. By June the Victorian membership had risen to 792, each paying 11 shillings entrance fee and a further 10 shillings as annual membership.
The new branch held its first meeting at Scots Church Hall on 31 May 1946 with 350 members in attendance.
The first Trustees were appointed and sub branches were formed at Ballarat and Horsham. 1946 was also the year in which the first Honorary Life Memberships were awarded, the first to Sir John Northcott. Victorian John Frawley, well known for his portaraits of most senior officers of the Corps during the war, was awarded the second for winning the Association’s competition to design a suitable badge.
There followed a period of decline and inactivity. It was not until the mid 1960s that a remarkable revival occurred. At that time serving members of the CMF were invited to join and subsequently all those serving in Armour, full or part-time, were made welcome.
So it comes about that today the Association has amongst its ranks those who served in WWII together with soldiers past and present from the pre war Militia, the CMF, the Army Reserve and the Regular Army. There are also veterans from Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam and more recently Cambodia, Somalia, Rwanda, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Shrine Officiate : Shrine Life Governor Lieutenant Colonel David Ford CVO AM GM
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