Unit Name: | 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers |
Country: | Australia |
Type: | Line cavalry |
Branch: | Army |
Dates: | 1885 – present |
Specialization: | Light cavalry |
Command Structure: | 5th Brigade |
Size: | One regiment |
Current Commander: | LTCOL Colin Shadbolt |
Garrison: | Lancer Barracks, Parramatta |
Ceremonial Chief: | King Charles III (Colonel-in-Chief, RAAC) |
Ceremonial Chief Label: | Colonel-in-Chief |
Colonel Of The Regiment: | Brigadier Phillip Bridie, AM, ADC |
Motto: | Tenax in Fide (Steadfast in Faith) |
March: | Quick – El Abanico Slow – Scipio |
Identification Symbol Label: | Unit colour patch |
Battle Honours: | Belmont, Sari Bair, Second Gaza, Sattelberg, Balikpapan |
Anniversaries: | 3 March – Regimental birthday |
The 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers is an active Australian Army Reserve Light Cavalry regiment. The regiment has its headquarters 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.
The regiment dates back to the formation of the Sydney Light Horse Volunteers in January 1885. It 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 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 Hawkei Protected Mobility Vehicles - Light (PMV-L) and Mercedes G-wagen Surveillance and Reconnaissance vehicle (SRV), having previously used Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle - Medium (PMV-M) in their role as a Light Cavalry (Reconnaissance) regiment. 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, public events, and other Army Ceremonial tasks.
The regiment is currently located as follows:
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 vehicles on display include: