The Military History Society of NSW

Second Lieutenant Gordon Sharp The Society’s lecture on Saturday, 4 December 2021 at Anzac Memorial Hyde Park, Sydney, was given by Major (retd) Paul Handel RFD on the topic ‘Australian Armour at Long Tan’. The lecture was attended by Paul Mitrovich of the Army Museum Duntroon. Paul brought with him for display the original map found on 2781465 Second Lieutenant Gordon Cameron Sharp of Tamworth, New South Wales, who was killed in action early in the Battle of Long Tan, 18 August 1966. Gordon Sharp's original map Second Lieutenant Sharp, a television cameraman in civilian life, was called up as part of the first national service ballot in March 1965. He received officer training at Scheyville and in June 1966 was posted to Vietnam with 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. He was in command of 11 Platoon, D Company when he was killed. It is reported that visibility was hampered by monsoonal rain when he raised himself from the ground to better observe his position and direct g...

                                               The Military History Society of NSW welcomes Robin Droogleever’s newly published regimental history of the 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles in the Boer War. Five Good Squadrons is a ground-breaking contribution to the record of NSW forces in that war. This comprehensive volume, running to 873 pages, is extensively footnoted and illustrated with a broad collection of maps and images appearing on virtually each page, and includes a biography of every man who served in the unit. Only a limited number of copies will be printed. To purchase a copy, email Robin at: jerwfd@optusnet.com.au   or write to PO Box 42, Bulleen VIC 3105 for further details and methods of payment.   The sale price is $60 plus postage of $12.50, sent via Australia Post waterproof and trackable red bag.   The Society's main website i...

Lt Harry 'Breaker' Morant - By James Unkles Background In the service of the British Empire, the Australian colonies offered troops for the war in South Africa. Australians served in contingents raised by the six colonies or, from 1901, by the Australian Commonwealth. About 25,000 Australians volunteered to serve in the war. The war is also remembered for the controversial trial and execution of Lieutenants Harry ‘Breaker’ Morant and Peter Handcock and the imprisonment of George Witton for shooting Boer prisoners. On 27 February 1902, Morant and Handcock were executed, while George Witton was imprisoned. Historians have claimed these men were used as scapegoats for the political interests of British military commander Lord Kitchener and his political masters. Evidence has emerged these men were not tried and sentenced according to law and advocacy continues with the aim of addressing this injustice. A House of Representatives motion tabled by Scott Buchholz MP on 12 Feb...

Lt Peter Handcock O n Anzac Day this year journalist Peter FitzSimons wrote an article published in the Sydney Morning Herald calling for the removal of the name of Lieutenant Peter Handcock from the Bathurst, New South Wales, Boer War Memorial on the ground that he was a convicted war criminal, for which he was executed by firing squad alongside Lieutenant Harry "Breaker" Morant  in South Africa on 27 February 1902. Handcock was a Bathurst district local. James Unkles is an author, former naval reserve officer, military and civilian lawyer, and campaigner for a pardon for Morant, Handcock and the third convicted man, George Witton. On 30 May 2021 James posted a response to FitzSimons on his website. The response notes that on 4 May 2021 the Bathurst Sub-Branch of the RSL wrote to Bathurst Regional Council, which controls the monument, opposing the removal of any names from the Memorial. A copy of the letter is reproduced below. Bathurst Regional Council has declined to re...

The Military History Society of New South Wales Incorporated Email: president@militaryhistorynsw.com.au Telephone: 0419 698 783 Postal address: PO Box 929, Rozelle NSW 2039 SUBMISSION ON NOMINATION FOR HERITAGE REGISTER LISTING   Item details Name of item: Harris Creek Rail Bridge (Under Consideration for Listing) Other name/s: Holsworthy Rail Bridge, Holsworthy Pedestrian Bridge, Harris Creek Bridge Type of item: Built Group/Collection: Transport - Rail Category: Railway Bridge/ Viaduct   The Society notes that the Heritage Council of NSW assesses items for listing on the State Heritage Register against seven criteria. The item must meet at least two of the seven criteria.   The Society agrees with the Statement of Significance and submits that in this case the proposed item meets four of the seven criteria: (a) historical values, (b) associations with...

  Group portrait of 1st Australian Division officers, Australian Imperial Force, Egyptian desert, 1915. Seated second from left MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM THROSBY BRIDGES, CMG. Other NSW officers achieving rank of general later in the war: standing first from left COLONEL NEVILLE REGINALD HOWSE, VC, standing first from right COLONEL EWAN GEORGE SINCLAIR-MACLAGAN, DSO, kneeling COLONEL HENRY NORMAND MACLAURIN. MAJOR GENERAL SIR WILLIAM THROSBY BRIDGES KCB, CMG, born 1861 in Scotland but in 1879 joined his family at Moss Vale, New South Wales. Served with NSW Contingent to Sudan in 1883 and, on secondment to British Army, the Boer War during 1899-1900. On outbreak of World War I promoted to major general and appointed commander 1st Division, AIF. Killed in action at Gallipoli, 15 May 1915. Group portrait of Australian Light Horse officers, Jordan Valley, Palestine, 1918. NSW officers from left to right: first: BRIGADIER GENERAL GEORGE MACLEAY MACARTHUR-ONSLOW, DSO, commander 5th ALH B...

A conversation space for members of the Military History Society of New South Wales To post, reply or comment please email: president@militaryhistorynsw.com.au > From David Wilson on  2021-07-29 18:58 A quick heads-up on this WFA lecture on Mont St Quentin to be given online by Julian Whippy who has an excellent reputation in the guiding community.  If I’ve done my search on the time zone clock correctly then 2000hr on Mon 2 Aug (UK time) is 0600hr on Tues morning for us here in the Antipodes (Sydney time).  A bit early for me, I think. However, the advertising notes also say it will be available later on YouTube which is probably where I’ll catch it when it goes up on that platform. https://www.westernfrontassociation.com/events/online-a-fine-feat-of-war-the-taking-of-mont-st-quentin-1918-by-julian-whippy/   > From David Wilson on  on  2021-07-22 We did something like this years ago (referring to Royal Australian Historical Society initiative ca...