RECONNAISSANCE MAGAZINE Winter Issue 2025
“From the Editor” column of the Winter 2025 Issue of Reconnaissance , the quarterly magazine of The Military History Society of New South Wales. Welcome to the Winter 2025 Issue of Reconnaissance . This issue’s cover feature is a stark reminder of just how impressive were the men who volunteered to fight for Australia in World War I. Robert Thomas’ account of Lieutenant Reginald Black’s pursuit of duty to death on the field of battle is all the more powerful for his matter-of-fact telling of the story. A grazier from Boggabri NSW, Black had no military training when he enlisted in November 1914. Joining the 6th Light Horse Regiment, he was shipped to Egypt in February 1915, and would soon be embroiled in the war’s mythical upheavals. In May, the 6th Light Horse landed in Gallipoli. Black’s C Squadron was deployed in “demonstrations” against Turkish lines, resulting in such heavy casualties that he was prematurely promoted to corporal. September brought more demonstrations, th...