The Military History Society of New South Wales

-

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Statement on the future of Sydney's Victoria Barracks

-
Image
Statement of the Military History Society of New South Wales on sale and redevelopment of Victoria Barracks, Paddington, Sydney Site map of Victoria Barracks precinct The Victoria Barracks precinct contains some of the most elegant Regency style buildings in Australia, even though their original and continuing purpose has been functional as a military facility. The Barracks site is simply too compact in its dimensions (15 hectares) and too important historically to be developed for anything other than its present use. Precious heritage buildings and spaces are dispersed right across the site (see site map above). In accordance with their function and the state of technology at the time of construction, the site’s structures are low-rise. We are concerned that new buildings would be higher in a way that overshadows and spoils the low horizontal silhouette of the Main Barracks, particularly looking to the south. In this regard the Main Barracks and the parade ground have historically b...
Read more

Our September 2026 Lecture - The Rum Corps: Rulers of the Colony

-
Image
The New South Wales Corps was raised to protect and police the people of the infant colony of NSW. Instead, they became corrupt traders in rum, goods, land and power for twenty years.  They defied several Governors culminating in their overthrow of Governor William Bligh and their unlawful seizure of power in the Rum Rebellion of 1808.  They established a military dictatorship in NSW with all the elements of any modern dictatorship today.  Our Vice-President Lieutenant-Colonel Ron Lyons (retd) will talk about this turbulent time in the military history of New South Wales. TIME AND VENUE: 10:30AM Saturday 5 September 2026 at The Auditorium, Anzac Memorial Hyde Park, Hyde Park South, corner Elizabeth and Liverpool Streets, Sydney CBD. Admission is free of charge but a donation would be appreciated. For info call 0419 698 783 or email: president@militaryhistorynsw.com.au Our Venue   The venue for The Military History Society of NSW lecture program is th...
Read more

Bathurst RSL Letter on Bathurst Boer War Memorial - Lt Peter Handcock

-
Image
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...
Read more