Volunteer Defence Corps (Australia)

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The Volunteer Defence Corps was an Australian militia force of World War II modelled on the British Home Guard. The VDC was established in July 1940 and was run by the government and the RSL. The VDC's leadership was mainly drawn from veterans of World War I and most VDC volunteers were men either too young or too old to serve in the regular military. The VDC was placed under the control of the Australian military in July 1941 and eventually reached a strength of almost 100,000 men across Australia. The VDC was disbanded after the war.

From 1942 to 1944, the 14th Battalion of the Volunteer Defence Corps manned a shelter at a place which is now known as Pooh Bear's Corner on Clyde Mountain. From this shelter they would trigger demolition charges under the King's Highway between Braidwood and Bateman's Bay. This was part of a plan to prevent any possible Japanese invasion party who might land at Bateman's Bay from advancing on Canberra.