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College Students in Uniform of the 4th Cavalry Mobile Veterinary Section [Hawkesbury Agricultural College (HAC)]
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Record NumberP6006Date qualifierc.Date rangeBetween 1st January 1937 and 31st December 1937Notes[Hawkesbury Agricultural College (HAC)]
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4th CAVALRY MOBILE VETERINARY SECTION
[Excerpt from History of Hawkesbury Agricultural College (Vol. 1) - History & Reminiscences, 1891-1941 by RN Dart (pp.142-144)]
The first suggestion regarding the formation of this unit at the College came from Captain F. Whitehouse, then lecturer in veterinary science, who pointed out to the military authorities what an ideal location the College would be for a mobile veterinary section and what excellent material there was at the College to fill it.
Brigadier O. F. Phillips, C.M.G., D.S.O., then G.S.O.I. of the 1st Cavalry Division, and Lieut.-Colonel M. Henry, D.S.O., V.D., arranged in November, 1923, the transfer of the unit from Singleton, where it had been previously, to Richmond. At that time the strength was one officer and eight other ranks.
In February, 1924, the 4th Cavalry Mobile Veterinary Section went into camp at Liverpool with Sgt. L. J. Holdaway as senior N.C.O. The unit was dismounted, and since there were no other veterinary personnel in camp, the unit had a colossal task in administering to the needs of the 1st Light Horse Regiment, the 21st Light Horse Regiment and the 21st A.F.A.
Captain Whitehouse spoke very highly of the keenness, efficiency and untiring efforts of the men who created the 4th Cavalry Mobile Veterinary tradition, which was second to no other.
In 1934 the unit was issued with remounts for the first time, and since then has been mounted. For many years the unit went into camp with the 1/ 21st Light Horse Regiment, and there developed a spirit of comradeship between the members of this regiment and those of the unit, which resulted in an efficiency much appreciated by the higher command.
On two occasions the unit was in camp with the Mobile Veterinary Section, recruited from veterinary students of the University of Sydney. and the association was mutually satisfactory.
There is possibly no other unit in the army in which ten years of efficient training has been carried out without the need to crime one man. This may have been due to the insistence on a very high standard of mental and moral attributes in recruits, but what undoubtedly helped was the sportsmanship shown by all ranks, and the spirit to sink oneself for the sake of the unit.
After being appointed as lecturer in zootechny at the University of Sydney in 1932, Captain Whitehouse continued to command the unit until relieved by Captain B. C. Veech in January, 1935. Captain W. J. B. Murphy took command in January, 1937. During his term the personnel of the unit was increased to twenty. Early in 1940 a 90 days' camp was held at Wallgrove, and much valuable veterinary experience was gained by the members of the unit.
On the removal of Captain Murphy to Cootamundra in September, 1940, the unit was closed down, in view of the difficulties associated with the personnel of the 4th C.M.V.S. attending camp during the College term leading to a break in the College curriculum.
Major-General J. D. Richardson, commanding 1st Cavalry Division, expressed thanks to the Principal for his interest in the 4th C.M.V.S. during the years it was established at the College.
The unit was run (unofficially perhaps) as an officers' training unit, and, in order to give every man an opportunity to study and practise every branch of the work, a roster system was meticulously followed and all promotions were made on examination results.
Members of the unit occupy high posts in the A.I.F. to-day, and all are excellent horsemen and horsemasters, and it is felt that the training received whilst in the College "Mobile" will now bear fruit for King and Empire.
____________________________________________________________________________________CampusRichmond (Hawkesbury)FormatPhotographic - PrintsAspectLandscapeSeriesAS-784 Personal Papers - Michael HindmarshExhibitionHindmarsh Family CollectionTownRichmondPostcode2753StateNSWCountryAustraliaTaxonomyArchives | Images | PhotographsArchive typeUniversity ArchiveContributorArchives
____________________________________________________________________________________
4th CAVALRY MOBILE VETERINARY SECTION
[Excerpt from History of Hawkesbury Agricultural College (Vol. 1) - History & Reminiscences, 1891-1941 by RN Dart (pp.142-144)]
The first suggestion regarding the formation of this unit at the College came from Captain F. Whitehouse, then lecturer in veterinary science, who pointed out to the military authorities what an ideal location the College would be for a mobile veterinary section and what excellent material there was at the College to fill it.
Brigadier O. F. Phillips, C.M.G., D.S.O., then G.S.O.I. of the 1st Cavalry Division, and Lieut.-Colonel M. Henry, D.S.O., V.D., arranged in November, 1923, the transfer of the unit from Singleton, where it had been previously, to Richmond. At that time the strength was one officer and eight other ranks.
In February, 1924, the 4th Cavalry Mobile Veterinary Section went into camp at Liverpool with Sgt. L. J. Holdaway as senior N.C.O. The unit was dismounted, and since there were no other veterinary personnel in camp, the unit had a colossal task in administering to the needs of the 1st Light Horse Regiment, the 21st Light Horse Regiment and the 21st A.F.A.
Captain Whitehouse spoke very highly of the keenness, efficiency and untiring efforts of the men who created the 4th Cavalry Mobile Veterinary tradition, which was second to no other.
In 1934 the unit was issued with remounts for the first time, and since then has been mounted. For many years the unit went into camp with the 1/ 21st Light Horse Regiment, and there developed a spirit of comradeship between the members of this regiment and those of the unit, which resulted in an efficiency much appreciated by the higher command.
On two occasions the unit was in camp with the Mobile Veterinary Section, recruited from veterinary students of the University of Sydney. and the association was mutually satisfactory.
There is possibly no other unit in the army in which ten years of efficient training has been carried out without the need to crime one man. This may have been due to the insistence on a very high standard of mental and moral attributes in recruits, but what undoubtedly helped was the sportsmanship shown by all ranks, and the spirit to sink oneself for the sake of the unit.
After being appointed as lecturer in zootechny at the University of Sydney in 1932, Captain Whitehouse continued to command the unit until relieved by Captain B. C. Veech in January, 1935. Captain W. J. B. Murphy took command in January, 1937. During his term the personnel of the unit was increased to twenty. Early in 1940 a 90 days' camp was held at Wallgrove, and much valuable veterinary experience was gained by the members of the unit.
On the removal of Captain Murphy to Cootamundra in September, 1940, the unit was closed down, in view of the difficulties associated with the personnel of the 4th C.M.V.S. attending camp during the College term leading to a break in the College curriculum.
Major-General J. D. Richardson, commanding 1st Cavalry Division, expressed thanks to the Principal for his interest in the 4th C.M.V.S. during the years it was established at the College.
The unit was run (unofficially perhaps) as an officers' training unit, and, in order to give every man an opportunity to study and practise every branch of the work, a roster system was meticulously followed and all promotions were made on examination results.
Members of the unit occupy high posts in the A.I.F. to-day, and all are excellent horsemen and horsemasters, and it is felt that the training received whilst in the College "Mobile" will now bear fruit for King and Empire.
____________________________________________________________________________________CampusRichmond (Hawkesbury)FormatPhotographic - PrintsAspectLandscapeSeriesAS-784 Personal Papers - Michael HindmarshExhibitionHindmarsh Family CollectionTownRichmondPostcode2753StateNSWCountryAustraliaTaxonomyArchives | Images | PhotographsArchive typeUniversity ArchiveContributorArchives
College Students in Uniform of the 4th Cavalry Mobile Veterinary Section [Hawkesbury Agricultural College (HAC)]. Western Sydney University, accessed 15/01/2026, https://collections.westernsydney.edu.au/nodes/view/40419