1st Royal New South Wales Lancers | |
---|---|
Active | 1885–1956 |
Country | Australia |
Branch | Australian Army |
Type | Line cavalry |
Size | Regiment |
Garrison/HQ | Parramatta, New South Wales |
Engagements | Second Boer War First World War Second World War |
Insignia | |
Cap badge 1st Royal New South Wales Lancers |
The 1st Royal New South Wales Lancers was an Australian Army light cavalry (reconnaissance) regiment. Its complicated lineage includes the New South Wales Lancers which was first formed as a colonial unit in 1885 as the New South Wales Cavalry, and subsequently saw action in the Second Boer War, and later during First World War at Gallipoli and Palestine as the 1st Light Horse Regiment. The unit subsequently served during the Second World War as the 1st Armoured Regiment equipped with Matilda tanks, fighting the Japanese in New Guinea and Borneo.
The Lancers was reformed after the Second World War in 1948 as a reserve formation in the Citizens Military Forces (CMF) known as the 1st Armoured Regiment (Royal New South Wales Lancers). In 1949, the regiment was renamed the 1st Royal New South Wales Lancers however, to reallocate the former name to the tank regiment that was to be established in the new Australian Regular Army. In 1956, the 1st Royal New South Wales Lancers was merged with the 15th Northern River Lancers to create the 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers, a unit which continues to serve today in the Australian Army Reserve.