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The Battalion was raised as 19 RNSWR at Marrickville
NSW on 12 December, 1966 as a CMF `Special Conditions' Battalion.
The unit's raison d'etre was to cater for National Service Registrants,
who elected to serve in the CMF in lieu of full time service in the
Regular Army, but because of their living in remote areas or employment
circumstances were unable to serve in existing CMF units.
The significance of the `Special Conditions' was that unlike existing
CMF units which conducted weeknight parades, weekend bivouacs and one camp
per year, 19 RNSWR conducted only two 33 day camps each year. Members were
not required to attend weeknight or weekend parades. As the majority of
the members came from country areas in New South Wales and the Australian
Capital Territory, the unit soon became known as `The Bushmen's Rifles'.
In August, 1967, the Battalion moved from Marrickville to Old
Holsworthy, NSW and established permanent quarters. On 1 May, 1971, 1
RNSWR (Commando) was disbanded and 19 RNSWR redesignated 1/19 RNSWR on a
ceremonial parade held at Victoria Barracks, Sydney on 8 August, 1971.
With the relocation of Regular units into the Holsworthy area, the
Battalion moved again in October, 1971 to Wallgrove Camp. It was not long
before the unit received further orders regarding another move. With the
Wallgrove complex to come under the auctioneer's hammer, the unit was
instructed to move to Bardia Barracks, Ingleburn and take over the Depot
Company Lines, which were part of the Infantry Centre.
Bardia Barracks was to become the home of many other
Army Reserve units. Accommodation was becoming scarce, so once again
1/19 RNSWR was given orders to move. The Battalion moved again at the
conclusion of its October, 1976 camp to the Training Depot at 68 Davies
Road, Padstow. During its time at Padstow, the unit outgrew the
Depot there and in March, 1981 was ordered to move again to Ingleburn and
occupy Mount Olympus Lines. On 1 May, 1989 the lines were renamed
Mont St Quentin Barracks.
Following the restructuring of recruiting boundaries
in 1994 by HQ Second Division, the Battalion was again ordered to move
"west of the mountains" and to relocate Battalion Headquarters to Romani
Barracks, Orange NSW by 31 January, 1996 where it is now located.
The Queen's and Regimental Colours of 19 RNSWR were presented to the
Battalion by His Excellency, The Governor of New South Wales, Sir Roden
Cutler, VC, AK, KCMG, KCVO, CBE, on a ceremonial parade at Tobruk Lines,
Holsworthy, on 13 August, 1972. The cessation of the National Service
Scheme in December, 1972 saw the Battalion strength drop from 600 to 450
overnight. The strength continued to drop to approximately 200 for the
first camp of 1973. A vigorous recruiting campaign was initiated and with
bi-annual recruiting tours the strength increased to its zenith of 972 All
Ranks in November, 1983. The unit continues to recruit on a `one for one'
basis to maintain its establishment strength. The strength of the unit as
at March, 1994, was 485 All Ranks.
Training was still based on 2 camps per year but these were reduced to
an Autumn camp of 16 days and a Spring camp of 16 days. The introduction
of flexible conditions of service for 2nd Division units and the
restructuring of recruiting boundaries in January, 1994 restricted the
unit to recruiting applicants from New South Wales who resided in the area
west of the Blue Mountains. On 25 March, 1994 the unit assumed command of
the former 2/17 RNSWR depots at Orange, Dubbo, Parkes, Lithgow, Bathurst,
Cowra, Mudgee and the former 4/3 RNSWR depots at Wagga Wagga, Leeton, and
Cootamundra. In September, 1995 the Battalion received orders to once
again move and the Battalion Headquarters, Support and Administration
Companies re-located to Romani Barracks NSW where they are now permanently
located. The move signalled the end of Special Conditions of service for
its members.
The Battalion trained with Regular Army units and participated in
exercises such as `Kangaroo III' at Rockhampton in Queensland; Exercise
`Droughtmaster' at Bourke NSW; Exercise `Pacific Reserve' in Hawaii, USA;
Exercise K89 at Darwin in the Northern Territory, and exchange visits to
New Zealand. Members also train at the Land Warfare Centre, Canungra and
at the Battle School at Tully in Queensland. The unit competes in the
annual Peter Evans Memorial Marathon in Perth, Western Australia and at
the ASSAM marksmanship competition in Queensland.
The Battalion's Pipes and Drums also participated in
the Bi-centennial Army Tattoo which toured Australia during 1988.
Unit representatives attended the 1989 Tercentenary of The Royal Regiment
of Wales in the United Kingdom and the Beating Retreat Ceremony held on
Horse Guards Parade, London in 1990. In February, 1992, the unit
paraded its Scroll to The Right of Freedom of Entry to the City of Sydney
before HM Queen Elizabeth II, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of
the City of Sydney. In August, 1993 the unit's Queen's and Regimental
Colours of the 1st Battalion and unit members toured France and Belgium to
commemorate the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice.
The unit maintains a strong affiliation with The Royal Regiment of Wales
and The Devon and Dorsetshire Regiment, which has resulted in reciprocal
visits between members over the years.
To foster unit spirit and maintain contact with members between camps,
a unit newspaper, "The Bush Telegraph" is published periodically and sent
to all members.
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