Id also like to thank tony christensen for his assistance with this web page. In 1949, the hong kong regiment were reorganised and became part of the hong kong defence force, which also included separate air and naval units. It was the first distinctive australian medal in the british system of honours and awards. On guard with the volunteer defence corps details trove. Alfred tennyson captured the spirit of the time by publishing his poem riflemen form in the times on 9 may 1859. Officers and sncos of the hong kong volunteer defence. The red book records that oc armoured car platoon of hkvdc was 2lt. The volunteer defence corps was formed on 15 july 1940. A record of the actions of the hongkong volunteer defence corps in the battle for hong kong december 1941. The history of the 15th battalion volunteer defence corps during world war 2. Army museum of western australia resources transcription projects. The volunteer defence corps vdc was an australian part time volunteer military force of world war ii modelled on the british home guard. Northam army camp served two specific purposes during world war ii. The army volunteer corps guidebook acknowledgements the material in this guidebook reflects the collaboration of many people.
A voluntary organisation promoting comprehensive disaster management at the community. The government took over control of the vdc in may 1941, and gave the organisation the role. Members of the womens volunteer defence corps being. On guard with the volunteer defence corps national. Hong kong volunteer defence corps signals christmas photo 1939 shows person leslie beal warren 19001943 hong kong volunteer defence corps signals christmas photo 1939 shows person david william yee aka wylum 192000. The army volunteer corps avc bill of rights and responsibilities is based on the army values. The old sixteenth being a record of the 16th battalion aif during the great war 1914 1918 by captain c. Volunteer graduate or 4thyear psychology student avon recovery centre inc is a notforprofit organization developed in response to the growing mental distress in western australia suffered by our state emergency services, first responders, police, nurses and teachers, members of the defence forces, fifo workers, their partners and families.
The vaoc was formed in december 1941 to support the royal australian air force raaf with its main roles of sighting and observing aircraft over australia. Members of the womens volunteer defence corps being trained in rifle drill, world war ii, 1940. Small arms were in short supply and only the instructor has a weapon. In july 1940 the returned soldiers, sailors and airmens imperial league of. According to the 19341935 year book of the hong kong volunteer defence corps hkvdc the nursing detachment was.
A record of the actions of the hong kong volunteer defence corps in the battle for. Defence corps in the battle for hong kong, december 1941. In its early years it was raised and maintained by the return soldiers league. The threat of invasion of the australian mainland was a boost to the strength and purpose of australias home guard the volunteer defence corps vdc.
Civil defence commission volunteer corps, georgetown, guyana. Armband worn by dr arthur graham butler, dso vd mb bs, as a member of the canberra volunteer defence corps vdc. The vdc was established in july 1940 by the returned and services league of australia rsl and was initially composed of exservicemen who had served in world war i. The volunteer air observers corps vaoc was an australian air defence organisation of world war two. As the building suggests, these are some of the volunteers lined up for a group photo.
Volunteer defence corps regulations repeal details. The services of the defence corps were later recognised by the award of 19 decorations and 18 mentioned in despatch for gallantry and good service. The volunteer defence corps vdc was an australian part time volunteer military force of. Volunteer force great britain military wiki fandom. Illustrated notes for volunteer defence corps, australia 1942. Year book of the hong kong volunteer defence corps 1940. Books, images, historic newspapers, maps, archives and more. It was a kind of australian home guard, paramilitary in nature, run by the government and the rsl and composed of volunteers. The voluteer defence corps decided to have their own book to help people understand the corps. Hello, i am trying to trace the volunteer defence corps i think that is what they were called who did war service in australia. The material was developed for the united states army community and family support center and is based upon work supported by the cooperative state research, education and extension service. The first mention of the possibility of raising a local defence force in nottingham was reported on 10th august 1914. Civil defence commission volunteer corps home facebook. I am particularly looking for information on men who guarded the parramatta river in 1942, where they were stationed, what uniforms did they wear etc.
Volunteer defence force in ww2 australia rootschat. Illustrated notes for volunteer defence corps, australia. Wheatbelt warriors the story of the 15th battalion, volunteer. Leave a comment recent additions by lara rsl sub branch view 1074 other items two pictures r. A record of the actions of the hongkong volunteer defence. Hong kong volunteer defence corps signals christmas. Volunteer defence corps ww2 the body that had the greatest effect upon the organisation of the army was the volunteer defence corps. At the start of ww1 they were not recognised by the war office and were not permitted to wear army uniforms or insignia so they purchased their own. The unit equipped with 2 amoured cars was attached to coy c of the 214 punjabis, under major g. A record of the actions of the hong kong volunteer defence corps. Volunteer defence corps, victor harbour unit photograph.
Year book of the hong kong volunteer defence corps. The presence of the rsl monogram dates from the period july 1940, when the vdc was formed and administered by the returned soldiers league, to may 1941, when control passed to army headquarters. Volunteer training corps during ww1 badges of the york. Australia under attack the australian war memorial. It appears to be reprinted from a publication for the british home guard. In a guide to the volunteer training corps, ray westlake has provided for the first time records of many of these fascinating early home defence volunteer units. Camp for intensive short term training of the citizens military forces cmf, including. Nursing detachment, hong kong volunteer defence corps, 1941 from the centenary number of the volunteer.
Civil defence is an irish volunteer based organisation that supports the front line emergency services. This consists of 37 records of men that signed up for the volunteer defence corps. The volunteer defence corps vdc was an australian parttime volunteer military force of world war ii modelled on the british home guard. Basic training information for voluteer defence corps during world war 2. Mar 27, 2017 officers and sncos of the hong kong volunteer defence corps, hkvdc armoured car pln. Group portrait of the volunteer defence corps, victor harbour unit of 1945. The ww1 volunteer training corps vtc came about when various towns and villages formed their own units for home defence. The vdc was established in july 1940 by the returned and services league of australia rsl and was initially composed of distinguished exservicemen who had served in world war 1, but were too old for. Australia service medal 19391945 department of the.
The original mambers had all served in the late war. The volunteer defence corps vdc was an australian part time volunteer military force of world war 11 modeled on the british home guard. Volunteer defence corps the volunteer defence corps vdc, or the home guard, were already in operation, having been officially formed in may 1941, though in practice most rsl subbranches had formed their own home guard units in the first months of the war. Training camp for the newly formed second australian imperial force the 2 nd aif. It was inaugurated on 15 july 1940 under the auspices of the returned sailors, soldiers, and airmens imperial league of australia rssaila now rsl. It was a national organisation, led by distinguished members of the first aif who were too old for frontline service. A record of the actions of the hongkong volunteer defence corps in the battle for hong kong december 1941 author. It provides the rights the volunteer should expect from the organization and the responsibilities the individual has to the organization. On guard with the volunteer defence corps hardcover january 1, 1944 by anonymous author see all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The volunteer training corps, the great wars dads army. Vdc volunteer defence corps vhf very high frequency vs visual signalling wa western area headquarters army wamm western australian maritime museum wgcdr wing commander wir weekly intelligence report wo warrant officer won warrant officer of the navy wrans womens royal australian naval service. The volunteer defence corps vdc was an australian parttime volunteer military force of. Illustrated notes for volunteer defence corps, australia, 1942.
Ziesing, george ignatius, 19401944, photograph, b 624 five photograph albums, compiled by george ignatius ziesing, recording the volunteer defence corps in south australia. To acknowledge their commitment to the war effort we have gathered together the service records of all known people that either were born, lived or had a family connection the our district. Hong kong volunteer defence corps project gutenberg self. Volunteer defence corps manual national library of australia. The vaoc swiftly established thousands of observation posts op across the country and provided information to the raafs regional air. On arrival, he noted that there is not a single soldier in queensland. Volunteer air observers corps australia wikimili, the. Year book of the hong kong volunteer defence corps 1940 hong kong. On guard with the volunteer defence corps electronic resource the green hornets. World war, 19391945 regimental histories australia. Old sixteenth being a record of the 16th battalion. On guard with the volunteer defence corps australia.