History of 8/7 RVR
Introduction
The 8th /7th Battalion, The Royal Victoria Regiment was derived from seven famous Australian Battalions, the 7th, 8th, 21st, 23rd, 38th, 39th and 59th Infantry Battalion, which encompassed Western Victoria. The history of these Battalions and the events leading up to their linking and the formation of the subsequent 8th /7th Battalion, The Royal Victoria Regiment is as detailed below.
7th Infantry Battalion
The 7th Infantry Battalion was raised in 1860 as the Castlemaine, Bendigo and Maryborough Volunteer Rifle Corps. By November 1862 these Corps, less Maryborough who faded away, were known as the Mount Alexander Battalion and changed the green uniform for a grey one, and for many years after were admiringly nicknamed 'The Grey Battalion'. In Circa 1864, Mrs J.E.N. Bull, wife of the Commanding Officer of both 1st and 2nd Companies, presented the Mount Alexander Battalion with their Colours at Castlemaine.
In the mid 1870's the Unit was known as the Mount Alexander Battalion Rifles, and again the uniform changed to a scarlet tunic with blue trousers. Castlemaine had also become the Northern Military District HQ.
When the militia was introduced to Victoria in 1884, the old Unit was retitled the 4th Battalion Infantry with four Companies. This was followed by another change of uniform to all scarlet in 1885, a title change to the 4th, or Mount Alexander Battalion Rifles in 1887, gaining the next largest orderly room to Ballarat, at Castlemaine in 1888, and retitled the 4th Victorian Regiment in 1890.
When the militia was introduced to Victoria in 1884, the old Unit was retitled the 4th Battalion Infantry with four Companies. This was followed by another change of uniform to all scarlet in 1885, a title change to the 4th, or Mount Alexander Battalion Rifles in 1887, gaining the next largest orderly room to Ballarat, at Castlemaine in 1888, and retitled the 4th Victorian Regiment in 1890
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| Co in front of Sphinx 1914 |
In 1903 both Units were relinked into the 8th Australian Infantry Regiment (AIR), which lasted until 1908 when they were unlinked to form 1st /8th AIR (Castlemaine), and 2nd /8th AIR (Bendigo). Both Units from here were to seek their own destinies for many years before relinking again.
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| 3 on Horse Back in front of Sphinx 1914 |
Upon the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, the 66th Battalion areas raised the service battalion, the 7th, for the AIF. The 66th served at home with its conscripts.
In 1916 at Tel-El-Kebir in Egypt, the 7th Battalion was split to raise veterans for a new unit, the 59th Australian AIF. This Unit also served with distinction until disbanded to provide men for the more original units in 1918.
In 1918 the 66th became the 2nd /7th Battalion, and then in 1921 the 2nd /7th and part of the 2nd/21st in the adjoining areas to the West, North-West from the Victorian Rangers, became the 7th Battalion (Mount Alexander Regiment) with its HQ at Castlemaine.
On the 1st July 1929 the 7th Battalion ceased to be maintained, and was linked to Bendigo, now the 38th Battalion; and then became the 38th /7th Battalion. With a note of finality, all the Colours and Banners awarded to the old Castlemaine Unit were laid up at Christ Church, Castlemaine on 11th August that same year. Castlemaine itself remained linked to the Bendigo unit from then on, but not so the 7th Battalion.
On the 9th November 1936 the 7th Battalion was finally unlinked from the 38th Battalion, and was relocated at Mildura and given a new lease of life. New Colours were presented to the 7th Battalion (North-West Murray Borderers) in May 1937, and with another World War approaching, they were mobilized.
The 2nd AIF was raised, and again this Unit's service Battalion went to war as the 2nd /7th Australian Infantry Battalion, AIF. Volunteers to the 2nd /7th left the 7th low in numbers, and again their place was taken by conscripts, but this time they would fight as well.
By the time the 2nd /7th returned from the Middle East in 1942, the 7th was already on full time duty at Darwin where they were brigaded to the luckless 8th Division. The 2nd /7th also went to the Northern Territory and then on to New Guinea. The 7th remained on garrison duty, then to Qld, and then on to Lae in May 1944. From there they saw action in the Solomon Islands, and finally the end of the war on Bougainville in 1945. The 2nd /7th finished the war on the New Guinea mainland. Both Units were disbanded in 1946.
In 1948, the amalgamated Units of the 7th and 8th Battalions were raised again as the 8th /7th Battalion (North Western Victorian Regiment) and their history is covered in the following 8th Battalion history.
8th Infantry Battalion
Ballarat, Ballarat East and Creswick/Clunes raised Rifle Corps in 1858, and first became known as the Ballarat Volunteer Rifle Regiment, and then as the Ballarat Rangers, a reference to the work done by light infantry in the America's war of 1758. From the beginning, they chose to emulate the traditions, drill and uniform of the 60th (Royal American Regiment) (later titled the 'King's Royal Rifle Regiment) and they guarded this distinction with a fierce pride for the next fifty years.
Training was conducted at a wooden Council Chamber on the present site of the Town Hall. From there they used a tin shed in Ballarat East, and also an old Government camp building until, in 1865, both Councils built a curved tin Orderly Room in Ballarat East, and this remained the home of the Rangers until 1884.
In 1884, the Militia 3rd Battalion Infantry was raised, and by 1885, Ballarat had gained the largest Orderly Room in the Colony, a claim that continued as late as 1912 when it was still the largest in the Commonwealth.
Pressure had been applied to the Unit to change the rifle green uniform to scarlet, like the other Battalions, but Ballarat gained a reprieve that allowed them to continue to wear the uniforms of the King's' Royal Rifle Regiment for several more years.
By 1890 the Unit was titled the 1st Battalion, 3rd Victorian Regiment, and the 'Old Fourth' from Castlemaine and Bendigo were linked (see para 105). This lasted until 1893.
With the outbreak of war in South Africa, the 'Old Third' had eleven volunteers accepted for service with the first contingent sent from Victoria in 1899. Further contingents were raised in 1900-02, but the Unit was only awarded 'South Africa 1900-1902' for its contribution to this war
In 1903 the 'Old Third' became the 7th Australian Infantry Regiment, and in 1908, 1st /7th AIR. Within the Australia-wide allotment of Battalion areas and with the introduction of universal training, 1912 saw the Unit expand into two separate Battalions, the 70th Battalion (The Ballarat Regiment) and the 71st Battalion (The City of Ballarat Regiment).
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| HHH & Connelly Egypt 1915 |
The 70th (Ballarat East) at this time included Geelong, who separated in 1915 to become the 69th Battalion (see the 23rd Battalion history). The 71st (Ballarat West), included Warrnambool and Hamilton until they separated to become part of the 73rd Battalion (see the 21st Battalion history).
Upon the declaration of war in 1914, the 70th was mobilized to Queenscliff, and it was here that its members were invited to join the service Battalion, the 8th Battalion, AIF. Most of the volunteer militiamen did so, and the rest were recruited from the 70th and 71st areas as stated above. Conscripts maintained the older unit strengths during this war.
By 1915 the 39th Battalion AIF had been raised and trained in the Ballarat area before departing overseas. Recruiting for this Unit was done to a similar plan as for the 8th in 1914.
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| Eric & Stanley 1915 |
In 1916 at Tel-El-Kebir in Egypt, the 8th Battalion was split to raise veterans for a new unit, the 60th Battalion AIF. This unit also served with distinction until disbanded to provide men for the original Units in 1918.
In 1918 the 70th (Ballarat East) became the 2nd /8th Battalion and the 71st (Ballarat West) became the 2nd /39th Battalion. In 1921 both these Units were linked again to become the 8th Battalion (The City of Ballarat Regiment).
The 8th Battalion continued as such for many years, and was called to arms again for the Second World War, when its service Battalion was raised from its members in the Ballarat, Ararat and Stawell areas. Also included this time were the 58th (Essendon, Kilmore and Shepparton), the 59th (Wangaratta, Benalla, North-East Victoria), and the 59th /60th (Preston, Westgarth and Northcote). This Unit was titled the 2nd /8th Australian Infantry Battalion AIF.
Volunteers flocked to the 2nd /8th, leaving the 8th Battalion manned by conscripts again. By the time the 2nd /8th returned from the Middle East in 1942, the 8th was located at Darwin where they were brigaded to 8th Division, out of all the Brigades of this Division, only the one left at Darwin survived the early Japanese victories. The 2nd /8th went to the Northern Territory, and both these Battalions remained on garrison duty until moving to Qld for training in 1943.
The 8th Battalion arrived at Lae in May 1944, and from there moved to the Solomon Islands by September. The 2nd /8th sailed from the Northern Coast of New Guinea on 7 November 1944 and landed at Aitape on 12 November 1944 and it was along this coastal strip that they fought until the cessation of hostilities in August 1945. The 8th moved onto Bougainville in late 1944 where they rejoined the 23rd Brigade. They remained here fighting the Japanese in the north of that Island. It was here at Commo Ridge the PTE F. Partridge, 8th Battalion won his VC on the 24 July 1945, the first and youngest Militiaman to win it in WW2. The 8th was still fighting the Japanese when the war ended. Both Units were disbanded in 1946.
21st Battalion
In 1888, another Unit was raised into the Victorian Land Forces, originally titled the Volunteer Rifles, but in 1889 it was renamed the Victorian Rangers. The Unit was formed by Companies and detachments at nearly every town in Victoria. Echuca raised a Company, while Swan Hill and Maryborough raised detachments in various other Companies. Echuca became famous for their E Company's friendly invasion of NSW in 1892.
The Victorian Rangers worn khaki uniforms, just like the Infantry Units at this time, but distinguished themselves different by wearing the slouch hat until they also adopted the helmet like the rest of the Infantry.
The Victorian Rangers were the first, along with the Light Horse, to be awarded the Battle Honour for the South African War 1899-1902.
The Rangers grew into three Battalions at one stage, but by 1897 had declined to only two, the 1st or Southern Battalion and the 2nd or Northern Battalion. In 1903 they were taken over by the Commonwealth as the Victorian Rangers and by 1908 were titled the 1st Battalion, Victorian Rangers. 
1912 saw the Rangers retitled the 73rd Battalion (Victorian Rangers) with its HQ at Warracknabeal and now covering the general Mallee region, including Mildura, Dunolly, St Arnaud, Donald, Maryborough and as far as Dimboola, Nhill, Minyip, Horsham, Murtoa, Stawell and Ararat. Other Units were raised from the rest of the old Unit, including Echuca, in the north who were absorbed by Bendigo.
The 21st Battalion AIF was raised in 1915, and by June that year had sailed as part of 2nd Division. After training in Egypt, the Division landed at Gallipoli on 12 September 1915, and finally to France with the rest of the ANZAC Corps.
By 1918 the 73rd was designated as the 21st Battalion area, after its service Unit, and became the 2nd/21st Battalion. In 1921 they became the 21st Battalion (Victorian Rangers) and here many changes occurred. The Battalion boundaries altered, as part of the old Unit was absorbed by the 7th Battalion on the Mallee Region, and part of the 2nd/23rd and 2nd/8th areas now were absorbed by the 21st, and this included Warrnambool, Hamilton and Camperdown who had previously belonged to Ballarat and Geelong.
Warrnambool became the 21st Battalion HQ as universal training became limited to areas of larger population only, but by 1929 all compulsory training was terminated and the area was linked to Geelong again as the 23rd/21st Battalion. This arrangement lasted up to WW2, when the Unit was mobilized (see 23rd Battalion history).
Note: Although this Units origin can be traced back to 1889, Warrnambool's military origins go back further to 1859 when a Volunteer Rifle Corps was first raised in this smallest of all settlements in the area. Their role was later changed to artillery, and later to Light Horse, so this area has seen many changes in role in its own territory.
23rd Battalion
The Geelong Volunteer rifle Corps was raised in February 1855, but their role later changed to artillery, and it was not until 1912 that Infantry was raised again in Geelong. Here they formed part of the Ballarat '70th ' until 1915 when they were formed into the 69th Battalion covering Geelong as HQ, Queenscliff, Belmont, Newtown, Drysdale, Werribee and Williamstown.
The 23rd Battalion AIF was raised in 1915 and by June had sailed with 2nd Division to Egypt. After training, they moved to Gallipoli and landed 12 September 1915. Thereafter, this Unit served with distinction until the end of the Great War in 1918.
As was the custom, the 69th Battalion was then titled the 2nd/23rd Battalion in honour of their service Battalion, while Warrnambool/Hamilton became the 5th/23rd Battalion. 1921 saw the 2nd /23rd Battalion titled the 23rd Battalion (The City of Geelong Regiment) gaining the areas towards Colac and Camperdown.
The linking of the 23rd /21st Battalions took place in 1929, and they remained so until mobilization in the Second World War when they were deployed to the Northern Territory and finally disbanded in 1943 without seeing any action as a Militia Unit. However, the 2nd /21st and 2nd /23rd AIF Battalions were raised again in 1939.
2nd/21st Battalion was formed into 8th Division in 1940, and the Battalion was rushed to the defence of Ambon in 1942 where they were overwhelmed and captured by the Japanese. The 2nd/23rd served with the 9th Division throughout the war from North Africa until returning to Australia in 1942, and from 1943-45 in New Guinea and Borneo. The 2nd/23rd Battalion was disbanded in 1946.
The 21st or 23rd Battalions were never reformed as such, but their Territorial elements were carried into 2 RVR. For the 23rd, this occurred in 1960 when Geelong formed E Company (The Geelong) until 1965 when they were absorbed by Artillery. In the case of Warrnambool, it was in 1965 that they became Support Company 2 RVR, and a remaining sentimental link to the Victorian Rangers.
38th Battalion
The beginnings of Bendigo's military history is covered in 7th Battalion History. From the 2nd/8th AIR, Bendigo became the 67th Infantry in 1912 and covered Bendigo as HQ, Long Gully, Golden Square, Kangaroo Flat, Quarry Hill, Eaglehawk gaining Kerang, Echuca, Swan Hill, Rochester, Deniliquin, Moama and Koondrook from the Victorian Rangers.
In 1916 the 38th Battalion AIF was raised, and on 27 May 1916 with the 37th (Seymour) and 39th (Ballarat) they formed the 10th Infantry Brigade and sailed for England with the 3rd Division.
After training in England, the 3rd Division joined up with the other Australian Divisions in March 1917. From here they fought until the end of the Great War.
At home in Australia, Bendigo became the 2nd /38th Battalion in 1918. The Unit was retitled the 38th Battalion (The Northern Victorian Regiment) in 1921. 1929 saw the 7th Battalion linked to the 38th Battalion, and the 38th/7th Battalion remained linked until 1936 when again Bendigo adopted the old title '38th Battalion' (Northern Victorian Regiment) with Castlemaine and Echuca as Companies. The 7th Battalion was raised again, but this time at Mildura.
WW2 mobilized the 38th Battalion and it served out the war on garrison duty until 22 August 1944, when they were disbanded as a Militia Unit. It appears that while the service Battalion was raised, the 2nd/38th AIF Battalion served only as garrison troops. Actually there were many Units held back for garrison duty all over Australia, both Militia and AIF. The 2nd/38th Battalion was disbanded in 1946.
In 1948 the 38th Battalion (Northern Victorian Regiment) was raised again at Bendigo into the Citizens Military Forces, and extended to Castlemaine, Kyneton, Echuca and Shepparton (Shepparton had last been part of Wangaratta's 59th Battalion).
1951 introduced National Service that included parading with CMF Units. This system was scaled down in 1955 and finally terminated by 1959.
By February 1952 plans were activated to raise the 59th Battalion again and to make Shepparton the HQ. Bendigo also lost Echuca to the 59th Battalion.
At the time of the 38th Battalion's absorption into 2 RVR, the Unit had depots at Bendigo, Castlemaine, Kyneton, Kerang and Swan Hill.
39th Battalion
The 39th Battalion's origin began in 1858, when two Volunteer Rifle Corps were raised in the Ballarat townships. By 1912 the Unit had split to form the 70th and 71st Battalions, and here the 71st (City of Ballarat Regiment) formed the future link to the 39th Battalion.
The 8th Battalion had sailed to the war in 1914, and it was not until 1916 that the 39th Battalion AIF was raised and trained at Ballarat. As part of the 10th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division, they sailed in May for Plymouth in England. After training there, they sailed to France in 1917 where they joined the other Australians in fighting Germany until the Armistice of 1918.
In 1918 the 71st Battalion (City of Ballarat Regiment) became the 2nd/39th Battalion, but when the two Ballarat Units were linked again in 1921 they became the 8th Battalion (City of Ballarat Regiment). It would appear that the 39th was relocated to Hawthorn as the 'City of Hawthorn Regiment'.
By 1930 the Unit had the Territorial title 'Hawthorn-Kew Regiment' and was still known as thus when the Second World War broke out in 1939.
This most famous militia Battalion of WW2 was to meet the Japanese first in New Guinea, where the 39th struggled to contain the Japanese advance along the Kokoda Trail, and by tenacious fighting, bluffed the Japanese into believing they were opposed by a far larger force that they really were. After AIF Units were thrown into the fight, the 39th still fought on until the exhausted Battalion was disbanded into AIF Units in 1943.
There was a service Battalion raised, and the 2nd/39th AIF served on garrison duty until disbanded in 1946.
The 39th Battalion was never raised again, and the 39th Colours for both wars were laid up at Ballarat in 1952, but were transferred to the Shrine, Melbourne in 1965.
59th Battalion
The 59th Battalion originated in 1912. It was raised at Coburg and Brunswick and the territorial origin has had a nomadic existence ever since. It always had close ties to other Battalions along the Hume Highway and was later to gain the 'Hume' as a title.
Other Units in this area in 1918 were 57th (Merri Regiment), 58th (Essendon Rifles) and 60th (Brunswick-Carlton Regiment). The 59th was the Moreland Rifles. Shepparton had changed from the 57th to the 60th by 1918.
The AIF service Battalions were raised from Gallipoli veterans in Egypt in 1916. Veterans from the 7th Battalion formed the nucleus for the 59th Battalion and the 8th Battalion for the 60th Battalion. These Units, raised in Egypt were part of the new 5th Division which stayed behind to train while the other ANZAC Divisions moved to France. By 1918, reinforcements had dried up to the point where 5th Division Units now in France, had to be disbanded to strengthen the older Units, and much controversy was caused here though bound by necessity.
By 1912 the 59th Battalion became the Coburg-Brunswick Regiment, (Shepparton was still part of the 58th Battalion).
In the 1930's, the 59th Battalion was relocated to Wangaratta with depots at Shepparton, Numurka, Beechworth, Rutherglen and Benalla.
With the outbreak of war in 1939 the 59th Battalion Militia was mobilized, and in August 1942 was linked as the 58th/59th Battalion. They fought through the war under this title with the 15th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division from 1943 to 1945 where they finished the war on Bougainville. The 58th/59th Battalion was disbanded on 23 February 1946.
This new Unit helped to raise the 2nd/8th Battalion AIF.
1952 saw the 59th Battalion raised after again splitting from the 38th Battalion at Shepparton, taking Echuca with them. They now became the Hume Regiment and gained the first 'Freedom of Entry' conferred in Australia at Shepparton on 23 March 1958. The 59th Battalion was absorbed into 2 RVR in 1960 as C Company (The Hume).
2 RVR
A new pentropic organisation was introduced in July 1960, and through necessity the three remaining Infantry Battalions still active in the country areas were absorbed by the newly titled 'Royal' Victoria Regiment as 2 RVR; one of the two new Royal Victoria Regiment Battalions. The three old Units were the 8th /7th , 38th and 59th Battalions.
2 RVR commenced with its HQ at Sandringhan (the old HQ 6th Infantry Brigade this included Admin Company), and the territorial titled Companies as A Company (The Ballarat) Ballarat and Maryborough, B Company (The Bendigo) Bendigo, Castlemaine and Kyneton, D Company (Kerang and Swan Hill), C Company (The Borderers, Mildura and Red Cliffs) and E Company (The Geelong), Support Company was located at Ballarat at this time.
Within two weeks changes were made and they appeared as A Company (The Geelong), B Company (The Ballarat), C Company (The Sunraysia), D Company (The Bendigo) and E Company (The Goulburn Valley). Swan Hill and Deniliquin here formed part of D Company with Bendigo.
By 1962 the Unit was located at Fitzroy, Ballarat, Maryborough, Brighton (Support Company), Shepparton, Echuca, Cobram, Mildura and Geelong. Recruiting was not as good as expected and many depots were closed or handed over to other Corps. D Company was also relocated at Brighton due to the loss of Bendigo and soon after all territorial titles were dropped from Companies as the Unit had by now adopted more of a dispersed nature like that of the old Victorian Rangers.
In 1965 the Unit dispositions changed again under another reorganization, the standard battalion system was again adopted. The Sunraysia Company at Mildura became the 1st Independent Rifle Company (North-West Murray Borderers) RVR, until 1975 when they rejoined 2 RVR. The Geelong Company was absorbed by artillery, and in return 2 RVR gained Warrnambool. Now the Unit was comprised of Ballarat as HQ, Admin Company, B Company Ballarat and Maryborough, C Company at Shepparton, Cobram and Echuca and Support Company at Warrnambool.
The late 1960's became a busy period as new Colours were to be presented to now three Battalions of the RVR. 2 RVR transferred the 39th Battalion Colours to the Shrine in Melbourne in 1965, the 38th Battalion Colours were laid up at Bendigo in 1968, the 8th and 59th Battalion Colours were laid up at Ballarat and Shepparton respectively in 1969 and in the same year the 1st Independent Company laid up the 7th Battalion Colours at Mildura. New Colours were presented the same year.
By 1973 only Ballarat, Maryborough and Warrnambool remained in the Unit. Mildura returned two years later and Shepparton/Echuca Depots were reopened in 1979.
The Freedom of the City of Maryborough was granted to 2RVR on 30 August 1980 and by the City of Ballarat on 26 November 1983.
The locations remained static until 1981 when Swan Hill returned, and at this time Bacchus Marsh, Hamilton and Portland depots were opened again.
It was as early as 1976 that the possibility of changing the Unit title back to 8th /7th Battalion was discussed and many opinions expressed throughout the Battalion. In 1987 it finally became a reality and on 14 November 1987, 2 RVR ceased and the 8th /7th Battalion, The Royal Victoria Regiment was raised onto the Order of Battle again.8th /7th Battalion, The Royal Victoria Regiment.
On 14 November 1987 the 2nd Battalion was officially retitled the 8th /7th Battalion, The Royal Victoria Regiment. This change had first been discussed within 2 RVR in 1976. The Colour Patch was re-introduced for wearing on the slouch hat (8th Battalion - rectangular, white over red).
8/7 RVR
On 14 November 1987 the 2nd Battalion was officially retitled the 8th/7th Battalion, The Royal Victoria Regiment. This change had first been discussed within 2 RVR in 1976. The Colour Patch was re-introduced for wearing on the slouch hat (8th Battalion - rectangular, white over red).
In the Bi-Centenery year of 1988, the City of Swan Hill conferred the Freedom of Entry upon the Unit on 17 September.
In this same year a composite company of the Battalion was exchanged with a New Zealand company for annual field training. The following year saw the Unit actively involved in the largest ever peace time Exercise in Northern Australia, when the Battalion was deployed to Northern Territory on Exercise Kangaroo 89. This was the largest concentration of troops up North since 1942 when Australia was threatened with invasion by Japanese Forces.
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| Curtis Street Depot 1886-2001 |
The Battalion Curtis Street Depot that was occupied from 1886 to July 2001. At the time of its construction at cost of approx 5000 pounds this was the largest single span building in the southern hemisphere.
The Freedom of Entry was conferred on the 8th /7th Battalion on 21 October 1989 by the City of Echuca, and on 27 October 1990 the Freedom of Entry to the City of Hamilton was also conferred. This brought the total number of 'Freedom of Cities' to five (six including Shepparton in 1958 - 59th Battalion) in the Units history.
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| 8/7 RVR Soldiers patrolling 2002 |
Strong links have been forged with past Associations such as the 7th/ 8th, 2nd/7th, 2nd/8th, 8th/7th and 2 RVR. A museum was opened at Ranger Barracks on 28 July 1989 by the Minister for Defence, The Hon K.C. Beazley MP.
The 8th/7th Battalion, The Royal Victoria Regiment has gone through many internal changes during the 1990's. The Units has Depots at Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Laverton, Mildura, Monegeetta, Shepparton, Swan Hill and Warrnambool.