New South Wales Lancers Memorial Museum facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids New South Wales Lancers Memorial Museum Collection

Location	Linden House, 2 Smith Street, Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: 1st/15th Royal NSW Lancers Memorial Museum Collection
Type	state heritage (movable / collection)
Designated	14 May 2010
Reference no.	1824
Type	Defence Objects (movable)
Category	Defence

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The New South Wales Lancers Memorial Museum is a special military museum in Parramatta, Sydney, Australia. It's located at Linden House, 2 Smith Street. The museum's amazing collection of items is so important that it's listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register since May 14, 2010. It tells the story of Australia's oldest and most decorated army regiment.

Discover the Lancers Museum

The 1st/15th Royal NSW Lancers Museum started in 1958 at the Parramatta Lancer Barracks. Its main goal is to collect and keep items, records, and stories. These items show the history of the Royal NSW Lancers and other related army groups. The museum also looks after things from other Light Horse Regiments and the Royal Australian Armoured Corps.

The museum has over 7,000 items! Many of these are super important for Australia and even the world. It's the only official military museum in New South Wales or the ACT that restores old military vehicles. They even keep them in working order!

Amazing Military Vehicles

One cool vehicle is a working Bren Gun Carrier. This was the first armoured fighting vehicle the regiment used in World War II. Many young Australian soldiers trained on these carriers. They used them while waiting for bigger Matilda Tanks to arrive from England.

Another incredible vehicle is the Matilda Tank named ACE. This tank was the first to land during Australia's biggest armoured attack. This happened at Balikpapan in Borneo in July 1945. After the war, ACE was left in a field for over 50 years. Many thought it could never be fixed.

But museum volunteers spent six years and over 30,000 hours restoring it! They also raised $100,000. Now, ACE looks just like it did when its crew fought in it. You can see it at Lancer Barracks, and sometimes you can even hear its engines start! ACE has won a special award for its amazing restoration. It's the only British or Commonwealth tank from World War II that has been fully restored and returned to its original unit.

A Regiment's Long History

Before the regular Australian Army was formed in 1948, the Lancers had a special job. They were the Vice-Regal Escort. This meant they provided mounted escorts for important people like the Governors of NSW. After Australia became a federation, they escorted the Governors-General. They were part of big events like the opening of the first Parliament of Australia and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The museum's collection shows the regiment's history from 1885 until today. It covers their active service in wars, their ceremonial duties, and their peacetime roles. The 1st/15th Royal NSW Lancers is Australia's oldest and most highly decorated regiment.

History of the Lancers Regiment

How the Regiment Began

The regiment started in 1885. The Governor allowed a group of volunteers in Sydney to form the Sydney Light Horse Volunteers. Later that year, they became the Sydney Lancers. This inspired other light horse groups to form across NSW. By 1886, there were eight such groups.

In 1889, these groups joined to form the NSW Cavalry Regiment. Historic Parramatta Barracks became their main base in 1897. The Lancers have been there ever since, earning them the nickname "Parramatta Lancers." In 1935, they were given the special title "Royal."

From Horses to Heavy Tanks

Before World War II, cavalry units changed from horses to motorised vehicles. The NSW Lancers were one of the first to switch. They used Vickers machine guns mounted on small trucks. This was a new idea, and their unit was likely the first of its kind in the British Empire.

During World War II, the regiment became the 1st Australian Army Tank Battalion. They were later called the 1st Australian Armoured Regiment. They were pioneers in using the Matilda tank in jungle warfare. They took part in Australia's largest armoured attack at Balikpapan, Borneo, in 1945.

The Lancers Today

Today, the regiment works as light cavalry scouts. They use fast, light scout vehicles. Their job is to support the 51st Battalion, the Far North Queensland Regiment. The 1st/15th Royal NSW Lancers Regiment Headquarters is still at Lancer Barracks in Parramatta.

What the Lancers Did

Ceremonial Duties

In 1885, the Sydney Lancers became the NSW Vice Regal escort. They kept this role until World War II. Their first public appearance was in 1885, escorting the Governor to say goodbye to soldiers going to Sudan.

They also attended many other important events. These included the opening of State and Federal Parliaments. They were there for the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. They also paraded for the visit of the Great White Fleet to Australia in 1908. Lancers even travelled to England in 1893 and 1897. They were part of Queen Victoria's escort for special events there.

Fighting in Wars

The Lancers were the first Australian troops to fight in the Boer War (1889-1902). In World War I, they fought at Gallipoli as the famous 1st Light Horse. They also served in Sinai and Palestine.

During World War II, they fought in many places. These included the Western Desert, Greece, Crete, New Guinea, and Tarakan. They were known as the 2/2 Machine Gun Battalion and later the 1st Australian Armoured Regiment.

How the Regiment Got Its Name

The "1st" and "Royal" Titles

During World War I and World War II, Australia created special volunteer forces. These were called the first and second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) units. Lancers officers and men formed the first groups of the 1st Light Horse, 1st AIF.

After World War I, the regiment was renamed the 1st Light Horse (NSW Lancers). In 1921, it became the 1st Light Horse Regiment (NSW Lancers). They received the special title "Royal" in 1935. The next year, they were called the 1st Light Horse (Machine Gun) Regiment (Royal NSW Lancers).

In World War II, Lancers volunteers formed the 2nd Machine Gun Battalion, 2nd AIF. After the war, this unit became part of the 1st Australian Motor Regiment (Royal NSW Lancers). In 1948, they were named the 1st Armoured Regiment (Royal NSW Lancers). Then, in 1949, they became the 1st Royal NSW Lancers.

Adding the "15th" Designation

In 1956, another regiment, the 15th Light Horse (Northern River Lancers), was disbanded. Because this regiment had connections to the original NSW Cavalry Reserves, it was decided to combine it. So, the 15th Light Horse was "folded back" into the 1st Royal NSW Lancers. This is how the regiment got its current name: 1st/15th Royal NSW Lancers.

What You Can See at the Museum

The museum is inside the historic Lancer Barracks. This is Australia's oldest military barracks on the mainland. It was built between 1818 and 1820. Most of the museum's collection is in "Linden House." This is an old sandstone building from the 1820s. It was once the first women's school in the colony!

The Royal NSW Lancers Memorial Museum Collection covers the regiment's entire 125-year history, starting in 1885. It has many items from World War I and World War II. It also has one of the best collections about the Boer War in Australia.

The collection includes over 6,000 items. You can see uniforms, weapons, and equipment. There are flags, photos, diaries, maps, and even films. They also have records of soldiers, letters, and lots of war and peacetime souvenirs.

Special Items in the Collection

Here are just a few of the amazing things you can find:

A complete World War I 1st Light Horse uniform. It shows the owner was an Anzac veteran who was wounded in battle.
A very rare Bergman MP 18.1 sub-machine gun from around 1981. This gun was the first of its kind and led to all future sub-machine guns.
Lt Col McArthur-Onslow's drinking mug, which he called his "bath" at Gallipoli.
A complete Light Horse saddle with all its weapons and equipment.
Early aerial photos of Palestine, with notes from the officer who took them.
The original flag of the 2/2nd Machine Gun Battalion from World War II.
The official photo album of the first officers of the 2/2nd Machine Gun Battalion.
Medals from World War II, including the MC, awarded to Sgt (later Lt) Longhurst.
One of only three surviving Balikpapan Matilda Tanks. It will be the only one that can still move when fully restored.
One of only three Covenanter Bridge Layer tanks left in the world. This is the only one that was used at Balikpapan.
A copy of the orders for the Balikpapan landing, with maps and war diaries.
Major (later Major General) GL Lee's personal Boer War diary. It describes his journey to South Africa and the Lancers' campaign. This diary has the first known versions of five poems by Banjo Paterson. Two of them are even in his own handwriting! Paterson was a war correspondent with the Lancers.
Personal photo albums from Captain (later Major Gen) "Fighting Charlie" Cox and Major GL Lee. These have rare photos from the Boer War.
A Boer flag captured at Bloemfontein.
Records of who was paid in the Lancers during the Boer War.
Major GL Lee's notes listing every Lancer who fought in the Boer War.
A collection of rare Boer War medals, one with six clasps.
Scrapbooks from the 1897 Jubilee detachment. They include invitations and official orders for the Queen's escort.
A tassel from Queen Victoria's personal coach, taken by Sgt Barraclough.
The only mobile forge used in the NSW/Australian military. It was bought from Germany in 1897.
The 1886 NSW Cavalry Reserve Headquarters correspondence ledger. It shows how NSW's first cavalry unit was established.

Why This Collection is Important

The 1st/15th Royal NSW Lancers Memorial Museum Collection is very important to the history of New South Wales. It shows the full story of Australia's oldest and most decorated regiment. The collection helps us understand big parts of Australia's history, like the Boer War and both World Wars.

This collection is also important because it's connected to the historic Parramatta Barracks. The Barracks are the oldest military barracks on mainland Australia. The museum helps us understand the Barracks even better.

The Royal NSW Lancers Memorial Museum Collection has over 50 items that are important to Australia. Some are even important to the whole world! It includes items about:

How a colonial military unit was formed.
The regiment's role in Sydney society.
How the regiment and its weapons changed from horses to heavy armoured vehicles.
The regiment's part in important events and wars, like WWI and WW2.
The connection between important people in NSW and the regiment.

The collection also has the first versions of five poems by Banjo Paterson. He wrote them while he was a war correspondent in South Africa. These poems are different from the ones published later. They help us see how this famous Australian poet created his work.

The collection can teach us a lot that we can't find anywhere else. It provides information on:

What Australian forces did in major wars.
How Australian cavalry uniforms, equipment, and organisation developed.
Important state and national events, like the Great White Fleet visit in 1908.
The lives of important people in NSW society.
The writings of Banjo Paterson.

This collection is unique because no other museum covers the entire 125-year history of Australia's oldest surviving regiment. No other Light Horse or cavalry museum in Australia has such a complete collection.

The 1st-15th Royal NSW Lancers Memorial Museum Collection was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on May 14, 2010.

Important People and the Lancers

The collection has items linked to important leaders in NSW society who were also part of the regiment. These include:

Sir James Burns, a businessman and soldier.
Walter Liberty Vernon, the NSW Government Architect.
Sir John Sulman, an architect and town planner.
Sir John Northcott, the first Australian-born Governor of NSW.
Lieutenant-Colonel James McMahon, a businessman and sportsman.
Major General James Macarthur-Onslow.

The collection also has the first versions of five poems by Banjo Paterson. He went with the Lancers to South Africa as a war correspondent. Two of these poems are confirmed to be in his own handwriting. One poem, "The Reveille," was even written specifically about the Lancers.

Showing How Things Changed

The collection is important because it shows how uniforms, weapons, and equipment changed. You can see the evolution of Australian cavalry, from horses and lances to early machines and heavy armoured vehicles.

It also shows how Banjo Paterson created his poems. The first versions of his five poems in the collection are different from the later published ones.

A Special Connection to the Community

The collection has items that show the history of the 1st/15th Royal NSW Lancer Regiment. They also show the contributions of individual soldiers to Australia's wars. The museum is run by both current and retired Lancers. This shows how important the collection is to them.

Rare and Unique Items

The Royal NSW Lancers Memorial Museum Collection is truly one-of-a-kind. No other collection covers the full 125-year history of Australia's oldest regiment. There are no other Light Horse or cavalry museums in Australia with such a large and complete collection.

The collection includes over 50 items that are important to Australia, and some are important worldwide. These include:

Rare photos and documents about important ceremonies. These include the Great White Fleet visit in 1908 and the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Rare photos and documents about the regiment's part in major wars, like the Boer War.
Rare Australian military equipment. This includes the only mobile forge used in the NSW/Australian military. Also, one of three surviving Balikpapan Matilda Tanks and one of three Covenanter Bridge Layer Tanks in the world.
An internationally rare Bergman MP 18.1 sub-machine gun.
Rare and excellent examples of early NSW ceremonial cavalry uniforms. Many belonged to important people in NSW society.
Rare ceremonial flags, banners, and original drums for the regiment band's first drum horse.
Rare lists of soldiers from the early 1900s.
The first versions of five Banjo Paterson poems. Two of these are confirmed to be in his own handwriting.