In The Beginning

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, these men, and their leaders, were aware that they might lose their identity as members of a unique army simply because, through no fault of their own, they had not been allowed to serve overseas.

To preserve and perpetuate both the Corps and the camaraderie that had evolved within it, a meeting was organised at Southport Queensland. There, on the 28th September 1945, at the headquarters of 4th Australian Armoured Brigade Group, the Brigade Commander, (then) Brigadier Denzil Macarthur-Onslow, was the guiding light behind the Australian Armoured Corps Association. With interim controlling bodies nominated for each state, Lieutenant-General Horace Robertson, the widely known and revered "Red Robbie", was apponted Federal President, with the Brigade Commander as Vice President and the original Commander of 1 Australian Armoured Division, Lieutenant-General John Norcott, by then Chief of the General Staff, graciously accepted the office of Patron.

Apart from the clear aim of re-inforcing the comradeship of war service, the fledgling Association also intended to look to the welfare of its members and their dependants.

It was early in 1946 by the time the wartime soldiers had been demobilised and returned to their homes. At the Punt Rd drill hall on 7th February 1946, the Victorian Branch held its inaugural meeting. Some 600 members met and elected Brigadier John Clarebrough 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 Scot's Church Hall on 31st May, 1946. 350 members attended. Soon after the first Trustees were appointed, and, at about the same time, sub-branches were formed at Ballarat and Horsham. then, the Association sought its own clubrooms, but despite many enquiries and inspections of possible sites, the plan failed because of financial limitations. In the following year the Branch gained the use of the 6 RMR Barracks in Victoria Street, Melbourne for its meetings, reunions and dances. This remained home to the Association for quite some time. 1947 was also the year in which the Paratroopers Association joined ranks with us. At that time membership reached an all time high of 1072.

1946 was the year in which the first Honorary Life Memberships were awarded, the first to Sir John Northcott. Victorian John Frawley, well known for his splendid portraits 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. Field Marshall Lord Montgomery was the third recipient being honoured in 1947.

During 1950 the Association received its Royal Charter, and in the same year,Brigadier Hinton, Federal President since 1945, became the fifth Honorary life Member, following the Earl of Gowrie whose award was made in 1948.

There followed a period of decline and inactivity. It was not until the mid- 1960's that a remarkable revival occured. Then the serving members of the C.M.F. were invited to join the Association and subsequently all those serving in Armour, part time or full time, were made welcome.

So it comes about that today the Association has amongst its ranks those who served in World War 2, both at home and abroad together with soldiers past and present from the pre-war Militia, the C.M.F., the Army Reserve and the Regular Army. There are also veterans from Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Vietnam and more recently Cambodia, Somalia, Rwanda and East Timor. All in all, there is a complete representation of the men of Armour.

This brief record of our origins will, we trust, serve to acquant potential members with our early history.

Today the Association maintains its aims in a variety of ways. Socially the annual calendar includes a family day picnic in Febuary/March, participation in the Anzac Day march, a children's Chrismas party, and the highlight of our year the Cambrai Day Dinner. This gala evening normally attracts in excess of 100 guests and an eminent guest speaker.

In other areas of activities, the Victorian Branch awards CERTIFICATES OF MERIT for services to either the Association, the Corps or the community at large. There are two welfare funds from which assistance may be drawn in cases of hardship; and there are scholarships available to children of financial members. These are available for the first and second, and the fifth and sixth years of secondary education. There is no requirement for academic excellence, the sole requirements being evidence of childs continuing education. The Association has close affiliations with the state branches in Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales.