Interesting 1st Royal NSW Lancers patch

[slick_mick]

Here's an interesting 1st Royal NSW Lancers patch - circa 1948/1949 and worn before the introduction of the yellow/red battledress flash.

This is also different to the blue/white battledress flash.

The 1st Royal New South Wales Lancers was an Australian Army light armoured regiment. Its complicated lineage includes the New South Wales Lancers which were first formed as a colonial unit in 1885, and subsequently saw action in the Second Boer War, and later it's many of it's members saw action during First World War at Gallipoli and Palestine as part of 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 were reformed after the war in 1948 as a reserve formation in the Citizens Military Forces 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, in order 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.

Enjoy!

Mick

[slick_mick]

I just came across this info on NSW Lancers insignia in the regimental unit history book "The Royal New South Wales Lancers 1885-1985".

"Lieut-Colonel Selby arranged as a temporary expedient for a supply of shoulder titles, to be paid for by members. These, in the colours of the old regimental colour patch, showed "Royal N S W Lancers" in light blue lettering on white felt. They were made in two patterns: one to be sewn on the sleeves of tunics and one in the form of a band to be slipped over the shoulder strap of shirt or safari jacket when in summer dress.

In 1950 official shoulder titles, woven, were issued in the corps colours, showing "Royal New South Wales Lancers" in red embroidered on a yellow background."

Also regimental buttons with the elephant's head were issued from 1954.

Mick

[slick_mick]

Here's a picture of the shoulder patch and battledress flash.

Mick