I am writing to you from the City of Albury Library Service in the hope that you may be able to help. I have had a family history enquiry and part of it refers to the members of the "Murray Valley Tent I.R.O." forming a guard of honour at a funeral in 1911. All I have been able to find is that the Murray Valley IRO was founded in 1870. My enquiry is - what is an I.R.O.? Is it a volunteer military organisation? Imperial Rifle O??

The Independent Rechabite Order (a Masonic type temperance organisation) organised itself in "tents" (their word for lodges). If you look up a Bible concordance you will find the Old Testament reference to the Rechabite tribe and their tent dwelling habits that gave rise to the form of the order. So the reference is to members of the local lodge turning out to the funeral of a deceased member. A Google search on "Rechabites" will provide further details on the order. Stuart Park PO Box 836 Kerikeri [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: Val Harris [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, 11 March 2003 5:26 p.m. To: [email protected] Subject: Murray Valley Tent I.R.O I am writing to you from the City of Albury Library Service in the hope that you may be able to help. I have had a family history enquiry and part of it refers to the members of the "Murray Valley Tent I.R.O." forming a guard of honour at a funeral in 1911. All I have been able to find is that the Murray Valley IRO was founded in 1870. My enquiry is - what is an I.R.O.? Is it a volunteer military organisation? Imperial Rifle O?? ==== AUS-MILITARY Mailing List ==== The Military Historical Society of Australia http://www.pcug.org.au/~astaunto/mhsa.htm