1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers

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1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers
RNSWL cap badge.gif
Cap badge of the 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers
Active1885 – present
CountryAustralia
Branch Army
TypeLine cavalry
RoleLight cavalry
SizeOne regiment
Part of 5th Brigade
Garrison/HQ Lancer Barracks, Parramatta
Motto(s)Tenax in Fide (Steadfast in Faith)
MarchQuick – El Abanico
Slow – Scipio
Anniversaries3 March – Regimental birthday
Battle honours Belmont, Sari Bair, Second Gaza, Sattelberg, Balikpapan
Commanders
Current
commander
LTCOL Andrew White
Colonel-in-Chief The Prince of Wales
(Colonel-in-Chief, RAAC)
Colonel of
the Regiment
Brigadier Phillip Bridie, AM, ADC
Insignia
Unit colour patch 1st15th Royal New South Wales Lancers unit patch.svg

The 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers is a current Australian Army Reserve Light Cavalry (Reconnaissance) Regiment. The regiment is based at Lancer Barracks in Parramatta, a suburb in Western Sydney, New South Wales. Lancer Barracks is the oldest Military Barracks on mainland Australia and dates from 1819.

Contents

History

The regiment dates back to the formation of the Sydney Light Horse Volunteers in January 1885 and took its current name in 1956 when the 1st Royal New South Wales Lancers and the 15th Northern River Lancers amalgamated, initially being equipped with Matilda tanks. [1] The 1st/15th RNSWL carries the former regiments' battle honours, and consequently has 31 collective battle honours, including those from the Boer War, First World War and Second World War.

The regiment has recently been equipped with Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles (PMV), having previously used 4x4 Land Rover patrol vehicles as part of the conversion to a Light Cavalry (Reconnaissance) role. The last of the previously equipped armoured vehicles, the M113A1 APC was handed over in 2006.

The Regimental Band of the 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers is one of the few Army regimental bands still in existence. The Band was formed in 1891 and has served with the regiment since, making it the oldest military band in Australia. The Lancer Band consists of Army Musicians who perform for Regimental functions, at public events, and for other Army Ceremonial tasks.

Battle honours

Current organisation

1/15th Royal NSW Lancers on parade at Lancer Barracks, Parramatta LancersParade1.jpg
1/15th Royal NSW Lancers on parade at Lancer Barracks, Parramatta

The regiment is currently located as follows:

Lancers' Museum

The regimental museum was started in 1957, and is currently hosted at its own building in Linden House, Parramatta. Its collection includes equipment, uniforms, weapons and vehicles used by the Lancers along its history. [2]

The Lancers Museum Centurion tank parading through Parramatta August 2014 LancersMuseumCenturionAtParramattaParade2014.jpg
The Lancers Museum Centurion tank parading through Parramatta August 2014

The vehicles on display include:

Alliances

Notes

  1. "1st RNSWL". New South Wales Lancers Memorial Museum. 2010. Archived from the original on 6 June 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  2. "The Museum". Website of the Royal New South Wales Lancers Lancer Barracks and Museum. New South Wales Lancers Memorial Museum Incorporated. February 2015. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  3. Lancers Museum, Covenanter Bridgelayer Archived 11 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 4 April 2015)
  4. Lancers Museum, Matilda Tank Archived 11 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 4 April 2015)
  5. Lancers Museum, Bren Gun Carrier Archived 11 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 4 April 2015)
  6. Lancers Museum, Staghound armoured car Archived 12 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 4 April 2015)
  7. Lancers Museum, Ferret scout car Archived 12 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 4 April 2015)
  8. Lancers Museum, Centurion Tank Archived 11 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 4 April 2015)
  9. Lancers Museum, Daimler Dingo Archived 12 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 4 April 2015)
  10. Lancers Museum, Land Rover Archived 12 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 4 April 2015)
  11. Lancers Museum, Austin Champ Archived 12 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved 4 April 2015)

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References