Topic: Militia - LHN - 2/9/6
NSWMR
New South Wales Mounted Rifles
History, Part 2, 1890
New South Wales Mounted Rifles [1888 - 1903]
2nd (New South Wales Mounted Rifles) Australian Light Horse [1903 - 1912]
9th (New South Wales Mounted Rifles) Australian Light Horse [1912 - 1918]
6th (New South Wales Mounted Rifles) Australian Light Horse [1918 - 1941]
6th (New South Wales Mounted Rifles) Motor Regiment [1941 - 1943]
6th Australian Armoured Car Regiment [1941 - 1943]
6th (New South Wales Mounted Rifles) Motor Regiment [1948 - 1949]
6th New South Wales Mounted Rifles [1949 - 1958]
Royal New South Wales Regiment [1958 - 1960]
Toujours pret - Always Ready
Allied with: King Edward's Horse (The King's Overseas Dominions Regiment).
The following is the second extract from a manuscript written by an anonymous author. The hand written manuscript outlines the history of the 2nd ALHR NSW Mounted Rifles from commencement in 1888, until 5 April 1899, when history ceases. From the internal evidence of the manuscript, it appears to have been composed sometime from July 1903 to 1904.
The second extract from the manuscript.
Encampment 1890
On April 4th 1890 the Regiment marched to National Park, and took part in the Easter manoeuvres, the splendid horsemanship of the men excited so much attention that his Excellency The Governor ordered a display to be made before him and the public. As a special mark of her favour, lady Carrington presented the Regiment with a silver bugle.
Speaking about the operations of April 5th 1890, a daily paper says:
"The tactics were carried out with few mistakes, the whole being an evidence of the great strides recently made by the Mounted Infantry, it would be impossible to speak too highly of this new and valuable arm of the service, as they turned out on Saturday."
On April 12th 1890, the Sydney Morning Herald said:
"Captain Antill and his Picton Company had ridden 10 or 11 miles over terrible country on the right flank with a view to stopping the Infantry, and after a journey of the most dangerous description in crossing bogs, creeks and descending the fearful cliffs overhanging the river, they swam their horses through the stream, rode forward on the camp side of it by means of a beaten track, and sent a fire into the Infantry, that not only startled them, but set them wondering how such a force could have got ahead of them. Captain Antill did a magnificent piece of work."
"A force composed of men of this stamp is a valuable element in any Military Service."
Disbandment of the Permanent Company
July 3rd 1890 saw the disbandment of the Permanent company, on account of the great expense of maintaining the horses; at this time there was much distress throughout the colony and a great deal of commercial depression, and as no immediate necessity appeared to exist for the maintenance of the Company, parliament decided to disband it with a gratuity of six months pay to each man.
Maritime Strike, 1890.
Owing to the excited state of the strikers during the great maritime disturbances in 1890, the Campbeltown and Picton Companies were invited to take up the duties of Special Mounted Constables. The instructions were telegraphed on Sunday, September 21st, 1890, and a few hours after the message was received, Officers Commanding these two companies, assisted by prompt action of the Railways Department, reached Dawes Battery, Sydney, with 95 out of a total 100 men.
The following day work was commenced in earnest and the troops, who in the meanwhile had been sworn in as "Specials" and fitted with mounted constables’ uniform and equipment, were told off in reliefs for patrol duty in the city and suburbs. This duty continued from 6am till midnight. The men exhibited much intelligence and by their good judgement, prevented a good deal of trouble. For this duty they were paid their usual regimental rates of pay, as well as receiving rations and forage. No cases of misconduct occurred during their tour of duty.
The work of patrolling continued until October 30th 1890, when the strike was practically ended. On this date the Premier, Sir Henry Parkes, held a review of the troops in Moore Park, and on behalf of the Government and the people of New South Wales, thanked all ranks for the work they had performed.
Previous: New South Wales Mounted Rifles, History, Part 1, 1888 - 1889
Next: New South Wales Mounted Rifles, History, Part 3, 1891
Further Reading:
2nd/9th/6th Australian Light Horse
Militia Light Horse, New South Wales
Australian Militia Light Horse
Citation: New South Wales Mounted Rifles, History, Part 2, 1890
