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1
RNSWR - A Brief History and
lineage
1
RNSWR traces its ancestry furthest back of all New South Wales
battalions, directly to the 1st Sydney Volunteer Rifles, which was
formed in Sydney in 1854 as part of the Colony's concern at the
possibility of a Russian naval squadron raid associated with the Crimean
War.
These
units had made substantial contributions to the forces for the Soudan in
1885 and the Boer War 1899 to 1902.
1st
Battalion, Australian Imperial Force was raised at Randwick, as part of
1st Brigade, 1st Division of the expeditionary force for Great War
service overseas. Serving with distinction throughout the Gallipoli
Campaign, its members Private Keysor and Captain Shout each won a
Victoria Cross at Lone Pine in August 1915. 1916 to 1918 saw the
Battalion in France and Flanders, Corporal Howell being awarded a
Victoria Cross at Second Bullecourt in May 1917
Between
World Wars, 1st Battalion AMF, the inheritor of twenty-four Great War
Battle Honours, was in 1927 titled The East Sydney Regiment, then in
1937 The City of Sydney's Own Regiment. At various times it was linked
with `19th and 45th Battalions.
Not serving overseas in the Second World War, it was disbanded in 1944.
The
Second Australian Imperial Force, raised as in the Great War, saw the
advent of 2/1st Battalion, at Ingleburn in October 1939, as part of 16th
Brigade, 6th Division. Hard service in North Africa, Greece, Crete and
New Guinea included distinguished action in Crete, nevertheless
culminating in surrender on orders from higher command. Its nineteen
Battle Honours passed in due course to the 1st Battalion AMF.
From
1954, the '1st Commando Company provided continuity, until its 1957
redesignation and the raising of 1st Infantry Battalion (Commando) (The
City of Sydney's Own Regiment). On 1 July 1960, this became No. 1
Company (Commando) (The City of Sydney
Company) The Royal New South Wales Regiment, in turn redesignated in
1965 1st Battalion, The Royal New South Wales Regiment (Cdo).
The
Commando role was separated from the Regiment] May 1971, 1st Battalion
then being linked with the 19th to form 1/19 RNSWR, whose 'Special
Conditions', remote location membership role continued until 1995, when
all units became able to offer flexible conditions of service. 
2
RNSWR - A Brief History and
Lineage
There
has been a volunteer infantry presence in Newcastle since 1860, when The
Newcastle Volunteer Rifle Corps was formed. The 2nd Battalion traces its
lineage through various name changes and reorganisations from this time.
Troops from the Newcastle area served in both the Soudan 1885 and Boer
War 1899 to 1902 Campaigns.
Recruited
generally from Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, the 2nd Battalion,
Australian Imperial Force was raised at Randwick as part of 1st Brigade,
1st Division of the expeditionary force for Great War service overseas.
Its distinguished service included the Landing at Anzac, the Gallipoli
Campaign and France and Flanders, and one of its members, Private Kenney
was awarded the Victoria Cross at Bullecourt in April 1917.
Between
World Wars, 2nd Battalion AMF, which had inherited twenty-four Great War
Battle Honours, was titled The City of Newcastle Regiment. It was at
various times linked with the 41st and 35th Battalions. Not serving
overseas in the Second World war, it was disbanded, as 41st/2nd
Battalion, in 1946.
The
Second Australian Imperial Force, raised as in the Great War, saw the
advent of 2/2nd Battalion, at Ingleburn in October 1939, as part of 16th
Brigade, 6th Division. Again recruited largely from the same areas as
its Great War predecessor, it created its own distinguished war record
in North Africa, Greece, Crete and New Guinea. Lieutenant Chowne was
awarded, posthumously, a Victoria Cross for action in the Dagua area,
New Guinea in March 1945. The Battalion's fifteen Battle Honours passed
in due course to the 2nd Battalion AMF.
The
post-war Army restructuring in 1948 included the reformation of 2nd
Battalion, based on Newcastle. The 1 July 1960 reorganisation resulted
in redesignation as C Company (City of Newcastle Company) 2nd Battalion
The Royal New South Wales Regiment. However, from 1 July 1965, the 2nd
Battalion was reformed in its own right as a battalion of The Royal New
South Wales Regiment.
In
1968, the battalion was honoured by the Grant of the Freedom of Entry to
the City of Newcastle.
The
reorganisation of the Army Reserve in 1987caused the linking of the 2nd
and 17th Battalions, to form 2/17 RNSWR.
The
Ceremonial linking Parade was held in Newcastle on 5 December of that
year.
3
RNSWR - A Brief History and
Lineage
There
has been a volunteer infantry presence in the Werriwa district since
1869, when the Goulburn Volunteer Rifle Company was formed. The 3rd
Battalion traces its lineage to this Colonial era corps, through the
3rd, 1st and 2nd Regiments of New South Wales Volunteer Infantry
successively, and, from 1903,the 2nd Australian Infantry Regiment. (2
AIR)
Troops
from the Werriwa area served in both the Soudan 1885 and Boer War 1899
to 1902 Campaigns.
The
3 rd Battalion, Australian Imperial Force was raised as part of 1st
Brigade, 1st Division of the expeditionary force for Great War service
overseas. The battalion, initially located at Randwick, drew its
recruits generally from the Werriwa (at that time the 43rd Infantry
Regiment's) area. It served throughout the Gallipoli Campaign and
subsequently played a notable role in all the major operations of the
AIF in France and Flanders. One member, Private Hamilton, was awarded
the Victoria Cross for gallantry at lone Pine in August 1915.
Between
World Wars, 3rd Battalion AMF, which had inherited twenty-three Great
War Battle Honours, was titled The Werriwa Regiment. lt was at various
times linked with 4th and 53rd Battalions. This unit saw active service
in the Second World War in New Guinea and was one of only two militia
units to fight alongside its Second Australian Imperial Force
counterpart. It was subsequently absorbed into that unit, and shares
seven Battle Honours with it.
The
Second Australian Imperial Force, raised as in the Great War, saw the
advent of the 2/3rd Battalion, at Ingleburn, in October 1939, as part of
16th Brigade, 6th Division. The unit saw hard service in North Africa,
Greece, Syria and New Guinea, while elements fought in Crete.
The
battalion's twenty-two Battle Honours passed in due course to the 3rd
Battalion AMF.
The
post-war Army restructuring in 1948 included the reformation of 3rd
Battalion, based on Canberra. The 1 July 1960 reorganisation resulted in
redesignation as C Company (The Werriwa Company) 3rd Battalion The Royal
New South Wales Regiment, however from 1 July 1965, 3rd Battalion was
reformed in its own right as a battalion of The Royal New South Wales Regiment. In
1981, the battalion was honoured by the Grant of the Freedom of Entry to
the City of Canberra.
The
reorganisation of the Army reserve in 1987 caused the linking of the 3rd
and 4th Battalions, to form 4/3 RNSWR.
The
Ceremonial linking Parade was held at Ingleburn on 26 September of that
year.
4
RNSWR - A Brief History and
Lineage
The
lineage of 4 RNSWR descends in two strands from the Newtown Volunteer
Rifle Corps (1862) and the Ashfield Volunteer Reserve Corps (1885),
through many re-designations, culminating in the raising of 4th Infantry
Battalion in 1921 from 2nd Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment (Newtown
strand) and 5th Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment (Ashfield strand).
Through
its colonial forebears, 4th Battalion derives its title 'The Australian
Rifles and the Battle Honour 'South Africa 1900-02'.
The4th
Battalion, Australian Imperial Force was raised as part of 1st Brigade,
1st Division of the expeditionary force for Great War service overseas.
Initially located at Randwick, the battalion saw service throughout the
Gallipoli Campaign, notably at Lone Pine and subsequently served with
distinction in the campaigns of France and Flanders through to 1918.
Between
World Wars, 4th Battalion AMF, which had inherited twenty-three Great
War Battle Honours, was titled Australian Rifles and for a time was
linked with the 3rd Battalion. The 4th Battalion saw active service in
New Guinea in the Second World War, being awarded two Battle Honours.
The
Second Australian Imperial Force, raised as in the Great War, saw the
advent of 2/4th Battalion, at Ingleburn in October 1939,
as part of 16th Brigade, 6th Division. With subsequent reorganisation,
it became part of 19th Brigade, of that same division. Serving with
distinction in North Africa, Greece, Crete, the Northern Territory and
New Guinea, its share of the defence of Crete against airborne invasion
was notable. Private Kenna was awarded the Victoria Cross for action
near Wewak, New Guinea in May 1945. The Battalion's fifteen Battle
Honours passed in due course to 4th Battalion AMF.
1957
saw the re‑raising of 4th Battalion AMF, from existing Riverina
District units. Subsequent absorption into 3rd Battalion The Royal New
South Wales Regiment as D Company (The Australian Rifles Company) and E
Company (The Riverina Company) was followed by re-activation in its own
right, on 1 July 1965, as 4th Battalion The Royal New South Wales
Regiment. In 1980, the battalion was honoured by the Grant of the
Freedom of Entry to the City of Wollongong.
The
reorganisation of the Army reserve in 1987 caused the linking of the 4th
and 3rd Battalions, to form 4/3 RNSWR.
The
Ceremonial linking Parade was held at Ingleburn on 26 September of that
year.
17
RNSWR - A Brief History and
lineage
The
first volunteer infantry corps to be raised in Sydney's northern
metropolitan area was the St. Leonards Volunteer Rifles, in 1860. From
this, and through the 1stRegiment, New South Wales Volunteer Infantry
and, from 1903 the 1st Australian Infantry Regiment, the 17th Battalion
traces its lineage, and from these predecessors it derives the Battle
Honours "Suakin, 1885 and "South Africa, 1899-1902".
In
1914, 17th Infantry Regiment AMF was on the Order of Battle but was not
called on for overseas service.
The
17th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force was formed at Liverpool as
part of 5th Brigade, 2nd Division, of the now enlarged expeditionary
force for Great War service overseas. Its distinguished war service
commenced with the August 1915 Gallipoli Peninsular battles and
continued notably throughout the France and Flanders operations, to
1918. Private Jackson's actions near Armentieres in June 1916 resulted
in the award of the Victoria Cross.
Between
World Wars, 17th Battalion AMF, which had inherited twenty Great War
Battle Honours, was titled The North Sydney Regiment. Not serving
overseas in the Second World War, it was disbanded in 1944.
The
Second Australian Imperial Force, raised as in the Great War, saw the
advent of 2/17th Battalion, at Ingleburn in May 1940, as part of 20th
Brigade, 7th Division. Becoming part of the 9th Division in the Middle
East, it saw hard service in North Africa, New Guinea and Borneo. Its
first action, at Tobruk in April 1941, included gallantry by Corporal
Edmondson resulting in the award, posthumously, of the Victoria Cross.
The battalion's sixteen Battle Honours passed in due course to the 1 7th
Battalion AMF.
The
post‑war Army restructuring in 1948 included the reformation of
17th Battalion, which was then linked with 18th Battalion AMF to form
17th/1 8th Battalion (The North Shore Regiment). The 1 July 1960
reorganisation resulted in re-designation as B Company (The North Shore
Company) 2nd Battalion The Royal New South Wales Regiment, however from
1 July1965,the 17th Battalion was reformed in its own right as a
battalion of The Royal New South Wales Regiment.
In
1978, the battalion was honoured by the Grant of the Freedom of Entry to
the Municipality of Kuring-gai.
The
reorganisation of the Army Reserve in 1987 caused the linking of the
17th and 2nd Battalions, to form 2/17 RNSWR.
A
Ceremonial linking Parade was held at Newcastle on 5 December of that
year.
19
RNSWR - A Brief History and
Lineage
In
1860 the South Sydney Volunteer Corps, a sub‑unit of 1st Regiment,
New South Wales Rifle Volunteers, was raised. From this colonial era
corps, through a complex series of re-designations and reorganisations,
1 9th Infantry Battalion was formed in 192 1.
The
19th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force was formed at Liverpool on
27April 1915 as part of 5th Brigade, 2nd Division, of the
now‑enlarged expeditionary force for Great War service overseas.
Serving with distinction in the latter part of the Gallipoli Campaign
and then throughout the France and Flanders operations, it was notable
for its part in the 2nd Division's attack on Mont St. Quentin in
September 1918. Lieutenant Storkey was awarded the Victoria Cross for
gallantry at Villers Bretonneux in April 1918.
Between
World Wars, 19th Battalion, which had inherited twenty Great War Battle
honours, was based in the Southern Sydney area, and at various times was
linked with 1st and 20th Battalions. The 1 9th Battalion (redesignated
from the Darwin Infantry Battalion) from November 1941 served in the
defence of Darwin and later as an Australian Imperial Force unit in New
Guinea and New Britain, until disbandment in 1945.
The
Second Australian Imperial Force, raised as in the Great War, saw the
advent of 2/19th Battalion, at Wallgrove on 15July 1940, as part of 22nd
Brigade, 8th Division. Following the Pacific War outbreak in December
1941 and being deployed in Northern Malaya, they were the first
Australian Army unit to engage the Japanese. There followed a fighting
withdrawal, with numerous fierce actions, culminating in a general
capitulation on Singapore Island. The battalion's members suffered
severely as captives to war's end. Lieutenant Colonel Anderson, the
Commanding Officer, was awarded the Victoria Cross for actions at Parit
Sulong in January 1942.
Battalion
AMF, though not raised until somewhat later, was the inheritor of the
wartime units 'three and four Battle Honours respectively. Its raising
occurred on 12 December 1966, as Battalion The Royal New South Wales
Regiment and as a 'Special Conditions' unit, to provide remotely-located
persons subject to National Service legislation with the opportunity to
exercise the option of Citizen Military Force, rather than Regular Army,
service.
On
1 May 1971, the 1st and the 19th Battalions were once again linked, to
form 1/19 RNSWR, with a continuation of the 'Special Conditions' role.
41
RNSWR - A Brief History and
Lineage
The
volunteer infantry presence in the State's Northern Rivers area since
1899 provides the earliest military links for the 41st Battalion. The
then Maclean Company Scottish Rifles became, through various
reorganisations, the 12th (Byron) Infantry by early in the Great War.
Further reorganisations led to the forming in 1921 of41st Infantry
Battalion.
The
41st Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, came into existence in the
Enoggera area on 1 January 1916, as part of the raising of additional
expeditionary force divisions following the evacuation of the 1 stand
2nd Divisions from the Gallipoli Peninsular.
The
41st, originally the 35th but now renumbered, embarked for England on
17May`1916, as part of M th Brigade, 3rd Division. Its recruits were
generally from southern Queensland and northern New South Wales.
From
December of that ear to May 1918, the battalion played a distinguished
part in all significant operations of the AI Fin France and Flanders. In
its first major action, Messines Ridge, the whole of the battalion staff
was lost to enemy action. Notwithstanding this severe setback, the
battalion still performed to a standard warranting receipt of a
commendation from the Divisional Commander, (then) Major General John
Monash. It has been a matter of pride that no member of 41st Battalion
was taken prisoner. The Victoria Cross was awarded to lance Corporal
B.S. Gordon, MM, for his gallantry at Bray, France, 26‑27 August
1918. The Battalion was awarded fifteen Battle Honours for its Great War
service.
The
inheritor of these Battle Honours and traditions was the 41st Battalion
AMF whose territorial title 'The Byron Regiment was reconfirmed in 1927.
Between
the Great War and Second World War, the battalion experienced various
linkages with 2nd and 33rd Battalions, and was re‑activated in its
own right in 1937. Though becoming an AI F battalion in 1942, it d id
not serve overseas during the Second World War, rather being linked, as
41st/2nd Battalion (AI F) from December 1943. The battalion was
disbanded on 17 December 1945.
Re-raised
in 1948 as 41st Battalion (The Byron Scottish Regiment), but becoming
from 1 July 1960 E Company, (The Byron Scottish Company) The Royal
Queensland Regiment, it joined the Regiment as 41 RNSWR 11July 1965.
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