|
The Royal New South Wales Lancers is the
oldest Cavalry regiment in New South Wales. It was established as
part of the N.S.W. Cavalry Reserves on 3 January, 1885 and Troops
were formed in towns throughout the Colony. On joining the regiment,
one had to purchase your uniform, provide your horse and accoutrements.
The equipment issued being Arms (Swords and Rifles), Bridles and Saddle
Cloths.
The Troops were identified by a locality name. One of these at West
Maitland on the Hunter River was known as the Maitland or hunter River
Troop. In 1888 an unofficial band was formed and operated with that
Troop. The following year, the Reserves were reorganised as the NSW
Cavalry Regiment and the NSW Mounted Rifles and both were allocated
bands. The Brass Band associated with the Hunter Troop became the
NSW Cavalry Band, Mr F. Fitness being the initial bandmaster.
The Band was mounted on Greys, which were purchased by the officers
and used for training purposes when not required for Band use. It
was unusual in those days for horses to be maintained by a Regiment
.
The Band establishment was initially 20 and one kettle drummer. Recruitment
of 24 was permitted to provide for what was called casualties. An
initial clothing allowance of £2 per Bandsman was paid with the uniforms
being issued on 4 June 1891. The instruments from Potter and Co. London
cost £297/5/3. The G.O.C. N.S.W. Military Forces authorised a payment
of £100 from the No. 2 Band Fund, the balance being provided by members
of the Regiment. A consequence of this financial shortfall resulted
in the Band becoming involved in fund raising ventures to ensure its
survival.
The Government in 1891 authorised an annual Band Subsidy of £50. This
was later increased to 250. In 1903, when the Regiment passed to Commonwealth
control, it was reduced to 150. It was further reduced to £75 in 1914.
In Australia the financial year commences on 1 July and the Budget
is introduced in mid August. World War I had started and Australia
was committed to the war before the 1914/15 Budget was introduced.
The Band wore the same uniform as the Regiment. N.S.W. Brown, with
the tunic being fitted with a Red Platoon, on their breeches a white
stripe, whereas the Regiment wore a red stripe. The Regiment wore
cock's plumes on their slouch hat, which had a Puggaree of red with
a white fold. A white pouch belt with silver mounted black pouch was
worn over the shoulder, plus a red and yellow girdle. Collar badges
were also worn.
In 1903, on becoming the 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment (New
South Wales Lancers), the uniform was changed to that authorised for
the Australian Light Horse, plus the white stripe on the breeches.
Nickel shoulder titles (1st ALH NSW Lancers) were also worn. Bandsmen
pay was subject to an annual appropriation in 1894, the pay was full
day 1/24th, half day 1/48th and evening Band practice 1/96th efficiency
rate of the annual rate. The Efficiency standard was gazetted the
next year, being 2 of every 3 full days, 9 of 12 half days and 6 of
8 practices.
In 1894 the Regiment was renamed the New South Wales Lancers and the
following marches were authorised: Walk - The Dragoon Guardsman, Trot
- The Cavalier, Gallop - Bonnie Dundee.
The Dragoon Guardsman and The Cavalier were always played when the
NSWL passed a saluting base and all were played at Inspections, Tattoos
and when the NSWL gave a mounted display. The last occasion they were
possibly played together was the last mounted parade of the 4th Cavalry
Brigade in 1935.
On 25 August 1895, the Peace and War Establishments were reviewed
and the Band in the Peace Establishment was 1 Band Sergeant and 19
Bandsmen. In the War Establishment the Bandsmen were to be stretcher
bearers 4 per squadron.
1897 was an eventful year. It was decided that the Band would transfer
to Parramatta, where the R.H.Q. was to be located. The Barracks, designed
by Lt. Dawes, 46th South Devonshire Regiment were built in 1819 under
instructions of Governor Lachlan Macquarie. The Barracks were renamed
the Lancer Barracks and are listed in the National historical Buildings
Register. The RNSWL is still located there.
Before the Band moved, Regimental officers helped the Bandsmen who
were able to transfer in finding employment in the Parramatta district,
plus the design and construction of their homes. On moving to Parramatta
a new Bandmaster, Mr W. Watters, was appointed, new Bandsmen were
recruited from the 3rd Infantry Regiment and the Parramatta Town Band.
Plans were in hand for the NSWL to send a Troop with the NSW Contingent
to Queen VictoriaÕs Diamond Jubilee in the United Kingdom. A Promenade
Concert was held at the Sydney Town Hall to aid expenses, the Colonial
Governor attending. The Band came from West Maitland 157 kms from
Sydney, the Australian Artillery - N.S.W. Regiment Band, now the 2nd
Military District Band, Australian Regular Army, the Naval Brigade
Band, now the Royal Australian Navy Support Command Band, HMAS Penguin,
and N.S.W. Police Band combined for several items. This was the introduction
of the Band into involvement with the major events in N.S.W.
The next day the Band led a parade through Sydney of the N.S.W. Contingent
to Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations to their embarkation.
The NSWL Troop paid their own fares. Thus began the continuing relationship
between the NSWL and the other Bands.
Early in 1898 the Band moved to Parramatta and some new instruments
were purchased. These included two tympani for use on the Drumhorse.
On arrival at Parramatta, the Band was increased to 25 and this was
confirmed in the revised P.E. of 6 July, 1900, which also provided
for 2 Trumpeters per Squadron.
The Band was heavily involved in the Commonwealth of Australia inauguration
ceremonies in 1901. It led a section of the parade through Sydney,
culminating at Centennial Park where the inauguration ceremony took
place. The three N.S.W. Light Horse Regiments provided the Governor-General's
escort.
The following evening, the NSWL Band with 21 other Bands, including
7 British, one Canadian, Indian and one New Zealand Band, participated
in the Commonwealth Inauguration Tattoo. Later in the evening paraffin
lamps were used to illuminate the march cards. The attendance was
30,000, the largest at any gathering in Australia until that date.
Details of the music played are contained in The Band of the 1st Australian
Horse, previously published - which also participated in both events.
A squadron of the NSWL went to England for training in 1899, and the
Band led the Squadron through Sydney before departure. On their return
journey most of the Squadron disembarked in Capetown to serve in the
South African War 1899 - 1902. Many officers and men were to serve
in South Africa, either in the NSWL or the subsequent Commonwealth
Units after Federation on 1 January 1901. Several Trumpeters went
to South Africa. The Band did not, although individual members may
have.
In 1900 a half-squadron was formed at Newcastle 83 kms from Sydney
and Mr E.W. Tryell, Wallsend, NSW wrote the N.S.W. Lancers March,
which was dedicated to the initial officers of the Newcastle Half-Squadron.
This March and the N.S.W Lancers Waltz by Mrs C. Dalton were played
at each Regimental Ball. There was a Regimental Ball at each of the
four Squadrons and Newcastle until 1914. Copies of these two pieces
of music are on display at the Regimental Museum, Linden House, Lancers
Barracks, Parramatta.
After World War I, Regimental Balls were resumed on an irregular basis
until 1937 when they were held annually until 1939.
The Colonial units in Australia passed to Commonwealth control after
Federation and in 1903 the NSWL became the 1st Australian Light Horse
Regiment, retaining the territorial title New South Wales Lancers.
However, the P.E. and W.E. contained no provision for a Band and the
Band Subsidy was reduced to £100.
On 16 May 1906 the Band combined with the 3rd ALH (Australian Horse)
Band to play at the Dedication Service of the South African War Memorial
Tablet at St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney. The Bands subsequently led
a parade of Veterans through Sydney.
In the Band for the first time was Frederick James (Jim) Heapy (1881
- 1945). Jim had previously served in South Africa as a Trumpeter.
He was a member of the Band for 32 years after playing several instruments,
playing the 1st Trombone, 2nd Trombone, Bass Trombone, finishing on
Eb Tuba. He retired as Band Sergeant, the only other N.C.O. in the
Band apart from the Bandmaster A.E. Taylor.
He started a family tradition. He persuaded his brother William (Bill)
to join, his son Ernest Neil (Dadda) Heapy (1909 - 1979), his nephew
Edward (Eddie). BillÕs son followed. Dadda joined as a learner in
1926 and played without pay until he enlisted in 1934. His instruments
were Tenor and Bass Trombone. The Band was the first Army Reserve
Band to attend the then Army School of Music, Balcombe, Victoria,
where the Director of Music stated that E.N. Heapy was one of the
best Bass Trombone players he had heard. Major V. Newman was not the
only Bandmaster to compliment Dadda on his playing.
The Band returned to the Army School of Music in 1961, 63, 65, 68,
74, 76 and 1982. Subsequently the Army School of Music was transferred
and combined as part of the integration of the Australian defence
Forces as the Australian Defence School of Music, Simpson Barracks,
Watsonia, Victoria.
Jim's grandson Neil Frederick (Heap) Heapy (1935 - ) joined the Band
in 1953 after National Service, when W.O. O'Donnell was Bandmaster.
Like his grandfather and father, Heapy also played the Trombone until
1968, when he joined the Australian Army Band Corps as a Regular Musician,
where he served in the Royal Australian Engineers Band and Eastern
Command Band, now the 2nd Military District Band.
Jim, Dadda and Heap were all awarded the Efficiency Medal.
In 1921 the NSWL Band commenced its annual participation in the Anzac
Day march through Sydney on 25 April to remember the Gallipoli campaign,
recommencing an association with ex-servicemen and Sydney it had started
15 years before.
The United States Navy sent a fleet on a world circumnavigation in
1908. The fleet arrived in Sydney at the conclusion of the annual
Light Horse training exercises, which were extended by one day so
that the ALH could form part of the Grand parade in which the American
sailors also took part.
On 12 March 1913 the Canberra Commencement Ceremony took place. The
2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade were present and the ceremony concluded
with a march past of the Brigade, the Salute being taken by the Governor-General
Lord Denman. The Brigade comprised the 7th ALH (New South Wales Lancers),
9th ALH (NSW Mounted Rifles) and 11th ALH (Australian Horse) Regiments,
in Review order at the Walk. The Regiments were renumbered in 1912.
The Brigade was led by the NSWL Band.
The Australian part time forces were recruited for Home Defence, and
on the outbreak of WWI large numbers of the NSWL joined the Australian
Light Horse Regiments of the 1st Australian Imperial Force. The 1st
Australian Light Horse Regiment based in NSW included NSWL and the
Australia Horse Bandsmen in its dismounted band of 19, the Band Sergeant
being J.H. Calthorpe of the AH. The instruments were bought with donations
by the regimental members, country supporters and a Ladies Group in
Sydney. The Ladies Group also contributed to two infantry battalion
bands.
The War was to have an impact upon the Band and it became dismounted
in January 1915. The Band no doubt contributed to recruiting and other
war effort campaigns in Parramatta and Sydney. It is not possible
to identify the events in which the Band played.
In 1918 and 1921 there was further renumbering of the ALH Regiments.
The NSWL reverted to the 1st ALH and in 1921, the NSWL Band became
the 4th Cavalry Brigade Band, although it remained at Lancer Barracks
and was administered by the 1st ALH. It continued to be known as the
Lancers Band. Field Marshal Lord Allenby visited Australia in 1926
and arrived in Sydney on 20 January 1926. He was met at the Sydney
Central Railway Station by a guard of honour by the NSWL and the Band,
which included Officers and men who had served with or under the Field
Marshal in South Africa and Palestine. The next day at Parramatta
a War Memorial tablet was dedicated at St John's Cathedral to members
of the ALH who fell in World War I. The Band led the NSWL to the Cathedral
and played at the service.
New Guidons were consecrated at the 4th Cavalry Brigade Camp on 2
April 1928. The Band and the 1st ALH (NSWL), 7th ALH (NSW Mounted
Rifles), 7th ALH (Australian Horse), and 21st ALH (Illawarra) were
present. At the conclusion of the Parade, there being sufficient space,
the Regiments passed in Review at the Walk, the Trot and the Gallop,
with the Band providing the music.
The Band entered the Palings Shield in 1929. Palings were a music
house in Sydney. The shield was for competition by Brass Bands, and
the Band won the competition. It entered the competition again in
1932, 1935 and 1936, gaining a prize on every occasion.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge was opened in 1933. Although the NSWL and
the Band were present, they received little mention. Major De Groot
rode a horse and joined the procession. He then attempted to cut the
ribbon and deny the Governor of N.S.W. the opportunity of declaring
the Bridge open. The NSWL and the Band were pleased to discover and
emphasised that De Groot was not using an ALH saddle. This served
to dispel the allegation that De Groot was a member of the ALH contingent
at the Ceremony.
1935 was an important year for on 5 March the Band led the NSWL through
Parramatta for the 50th anniversary Church Parade. It later took part
in the Royal Review held to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of H.M.
King George V. On 30 June, the King granted the title of Royal New
South Wales Lancers, and the RNSWL affiliated with the Kings Royal
Dragoon Guards, now the Queens Dragoon Guards.
The Band was involved with the Tattoo held as part of the Jubilee
Celebrations.
Late in the year Lt. A.E. Taylor, Bandmaster, retired after 44 years
service in the Band and was the last original member who joined in
1891 to leave the Band. He continued as an Honorary Instructor until
shortly before his death in 1941. The Band at this time wore the current
Australian Army uniform plus the accoutrements referred to earlier.
The next year the Band was invited to Canberra to play for the Formal
Opening of Parliament following the accession of H.M. King George
VI. After the formal opening, photographs of the Band were taken on
the steps of Parliament House, including on with the Prime Minister,
Rt. Hon. Joseph Lyons. Mr Lyons invited the Band to play in Kings
Hall, inside Parliament House.
Captain A.E. Taylor, senior officer present, declined on the basis
that as the Band was both non-political and non-sectarian, he could
not permit the Band to enter Parliament House. However, it can claim
to be the first Band that played at the New Parliament House, for
it played on its site in 1913 on Canberra Commencement Day.
A Sequi-Centenary Review was held in Centennial Park on 26 January
1938 in which the RNSWL and Band participated. A Tattoo was held as
part of these celebrations at Cumberland Oval, Parramatta on 27 October.
The Band was accompanied by the kings School Cadet Corps Band and
the Australian Broadcasting Commission Military Band. 7000 attended
the Tattoo.
With the outbreak of World War II, the RNSWL remained a Home Defence
unit, although it was on full time service. Many officers and men
volunteered for the 2nd Australian Imperial Force (AIF). In 1942 the
Citizens military Force, of which the RNSWL formed part, was incorporated
with the 2nd AIF and became an armoured Regiment, serving in the South
West Pacific and Borneo.
The Band remained in New South Wales as the 4 Cavalry Brigade Band
until 1942. The RNSWL was disbanded in January 1946.
The RNSWL and its Band were re-established in 1948 when the Australian
Reserve was created to replace the former CMF. The Establishment was
28 and former members of the Band rejoined, WO Dale being appointed
Bandmaster. The Band wore the standard Army uniform with a black beret.
The black beret replaced the slouch hat in 1944, when the RNSWL was
an armoured unit.
In 1951 the RNSWL and Band returned to Canberra for the 50th anniversary
of Federation. Shortly after, the Band began to suffer from declining
numbers as the pre-war members retired, but it was resuscitated by
recruitment from an Army Reserve Infantry Band. On 24 November 1957,
new Guidons were presented at Cumberland Oval, Winter Uniforms were
the Order of the Day. The temperature at 11 a.m. when the rehearsal
took place was 100 degrees F. When the presentation took place in
the afternoon it was 106 degrees. In an attempt to keep the instruments
cool, cold water was poured into them and drained out through the
water key. That did not prevent the slides on the trombones and the
valves in some other instruments from sticking.
To add insult to injury, on the way back to the Barracks the younger
members were refused entry to the Returned Servicemens Club for cool
refreshments on the basis that they were not returned ex-servicemen
who had served overseas. That was the criteria for membership of these
Clubs. Today wiser counsels prevail.
On 18 October 1959 the Band led the RNSWL to receive the Freedom of
Entry to the City of Parramatta, and still leads the RNSWL when the
Right of Entry is exercised.
In December 1968 the Band commenced an annual Beat the Retreat Ceremony
at Parramatta, which continued until 1972.
As part of the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Discovery of
Australia by Captain James Cook, H.M. Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of
Australia, officially declared open the restored Old Governor's Residence
at Parramatta. The music for that occasion was provided by the RNSWL
Band.In December 1971, the Band returned to the Old Governor's Residence.
The Band under WO2, T.G.F. Nichols, 28 strong restored the practice
of giving concerts in the garden. The last Band to play 120 years
before had been the 58th Regiment (Rutlands), now the Anglican Regiment,
in 1850 prior to returning to England.
The Band played at the opening of the R.S.L. Club, Castle Hill, near
Parramatta by the State Governor on 28 September 1974, and the Bandsmen
were not refused refreshments on this occasion.
The Band also took part in the H.M. Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee
parade through Sydney on 3 December 1977. It also performed the Beat
the Retreat ceremony in the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House in
1980.
The centenary year of the Regiment in 1985 meant the Band had a busy
year, the Centenary parade at Cumberland Oval, at which a Clydesdale,
complete with the Tympani as a Drumhorse, paraded with the Band. The
tympani, long held in the Regimental Museum, were reskinned and their
sound, stilled since 1915, was heard once more. The Band also led
the Regiment to Sydney Town Hall, where the Royal New South Wales
Lancers were given the Freedom of Entry to the City of Sydney. It
then led the Regiment in the Exercise of that Right. Several times
since then it has lead the Regiment as it Exercised that Right.
The following year was a disaster for the Band. A fire in the Bandroom,
resulted in the complete loss of its instruments and Library. From
this adversity the Band drew strength and reorganised obtaining new
instruments and continued its support to the RNSWL and its local community
in the Sydney area.
It was this spirit which enabled the Band to participate fully in
the Australian Bi-Centennial celebrations in 1988.
In 1991, the Band celebrated 100 years of military music.
It has been reorganised and undergone several changes of name. It
was one of the first mounted Bands in Australia. When it became dismounted
in 1915 it was the last military mounted Band.
It was disbanded, restored and then underwent a major fire. Despite
these misfortunes, it looks confidently towards playing throughout
its second century.
Sources:
Lt Col P. V. Vernon, History of the Royal New South Wales Lancer,
1885-1985, historical records NSW Bands Assn, past and present Bandmasters
and Bandsmen.
S.H. Pyne, member of the International military Music Society.
|
