Sydney University Regiment
Encyclopedia
Sydney University Regiment is an officer
training regiment
of the Australian Army Reserve
. It can trace its lineage back to 1900 when the University Volunteer Rifle Corps was raised as a unit of the colonial New South Wales Defence Force. Over time this unit has undergone a number of name and role changes. Although it was not deployed during World War I
a large number of its members volunteered for overseas service with the Australian Imperial Force
.
was the colony's only university at the time, and two of its professors, T. W. Edgeworth-David and J. T. Wilson. VD, a former officer of the East Surrey Regiment
, and employed as a teacher of physics at the University, encouraged the formation of a volunteer military unit.
Military training commenced in early 1901 with one hundred volunteers. The volunteers held their first parade in uniform later that year, when visited by the Duke of York
, later to become His Majesty King George the Fifth
. The UVRC appeared in public for the first time at a review ceremony in Centennial Park
to mark the occasion of the coronation of His Majesty King Edward the Seventh
.
In 1903, the UVRC changed its name to the Sydney University Scouts (SUS) and the establishment had by then doubled to two rifle companies. When universal conscription
was introduced in 1911, the Scouts' numbers increased and it became a militia battalion
. At this time it also became responsible for the training of boy soldiers, the forerunner of today's Australian Cadet Corps, during their attendance at camps.
, over sixty percent of the Scouts enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
(AIF). Members of the Scouts served widely within the AIF.
In mid 1918 a University Company was recruited from students at the University of Sydney for active service in the AIF. The war ended before it mobilised for service.
The SUR Pipes and Drums were raised in 1925.
In 1927 the Scouts were renamed the Sydney University Regiment (SUR). In recognition of its members' service in the Great War, Lieutenant General Sir Harry Chauvel was pleased to present the Regiment with its first Kings and Regimental Colours.
In 1929, His Majesty King George the Fifth approved the SUR's affiliation with the 60th Regiment, The King's Royal Rifle Corps
(KRRC) and consequently the regiment's embellishments and badges of rank became black with a red felt backing. These distinctive arrangements continue and are unique in the Australian Army. This alliance is maintained with The Royal Green Jackets
of the British Army, the successor regiment to the KRRC.
This period also coincided with the growth of student activism and in particular protests against conscription and the Vietnam War
. In May 1969 protesting students confronted a guard of honour for Sir Roden Cutler VC who, as well as being Governor of NSW, was honorary colonel of the Regiment.
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
training regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the Australian Army Reserve
Australian Army Reserve
The Australian Army Reserve is a collective name given to the reserve units of the Australian Army. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces, the Militia and, unofficially, the...
. It can trace its lineage back to 1900 when the University Volunteer Rifle Corps was raised as a unit of the colonial New South Wales Defence Force. Over time this unit has undergone a number of name and role changes. Although it was not deployed during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
a large number of its members volunteered for overseas service with the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
.
Early history
The University Volunteer Rifle Corps (UVRC) was raised on the 17 November 1900, as part of the colonial Military Forces of New South Wales. The University of SydneyUniversity of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
was the colony's only university at the time, and two of its professors, T. W. Edgeworth-David and J. T. Wilson. VD, a former officer of the East Surrey Regiment
East Surrey Regiment
The East Surrey Regiment was a regiment in the British Army formed in 1881 from the amalgamation of the 31st Regiment of Foot and the 70th Regiment of Foot...
, and employed as a teacher of physics at the University, encouraged the formation of a volunteer military unit.
Military training commenced in early 1901 with one hundred volunteers. The volunteers held their first parade in uniform later that year, when visited by the Duke of York
Duke of York
The Duke of York is a title of nobility in the British peerage. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of the British monarch. The title has been created a remarkable eleven times, eight as "Duke of York" and three as the double-barreled "Duke of York and...
, later to become His Majesty King George the Fifth
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
. The UVRC appeared in public for the first time at a review ceremony in Centennial Park
Centennial Park, New South Wales
Centennial Park is a large public, urban park that occupies 220 hectares in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Centennial Park is located 4 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district, in the City of Randwick...
to mark the occasion of the coronation of His Majesty King Edward the Seventh
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
.
In 1903, the UVRC changed its name to the Sydney University Scouts (SUS) and the establishment had by then doubled to two rifle companies. When universal conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
was introduced in 1911, the Scouts' numbers increased and it became a militia battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
. At this time it also became responsible for the training of boy soldiers, the forerunner of today's Australian Cadet Corps, during their attendance at camps.
Great War
On the outbreak of the World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, over sixty percent of the Scouts enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
(AIF). Members of the Scouts served widely within the AIF.
In mid 1918 a University Company was recruited from students at the University of Sydney for active service in the AIF. The war ended before it mobilised for service.
The SUR Pipes and Drums were raised in 1925.
In 1927 the Scouts were renamed the Sydney University Regiment (SUR). In recognition of its members' service in the Great War, Lieutenant General Sir Harry Chauvel was pleased to present the Regiment with its first Kings and Regimental Colours.
In 1929, His Majesty King George the Fifth approved the SUR's affiliation with the 60th Regiment, The King's Royal Rifle Corps
King's Royal Rifle Corps
The King's Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army infantry regiment, originally raised in colonial North America as the Royal Americans, and recruited from American colonists. Later ranked as the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout the British Empire...
(KRRC) and consequently the regiment's embellishments and badges of rank became black with a red felt backing. These distinctive arrangements continue and are unique in the Australian Army. This alliance is maintained with The Royal Green Jackets
Royal Green Jackets
The Royal Green Jackets was an infantry regiment of the British Army, one of two "large regiments" within the Light Division .-History:...
of the British Army, the successor regiment to the KRRC.
The Sixties
National Service (conscription) was introduced by the Menzies Government in November 1964 and operated until December 1972. During this period the Regiment provided an alternate form of military service for students attending university. SUR during this period consisted of four rifle companies, a recruit training company as well as an HQ and Support company. Support company provided mortar, signal, pioneer and transport platoons.This period also coincided with the growth of student activism and in particular protests against conscription and the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. In May 1969 protesting students confronted a guard of honour for Sir Roden Cutler VC who, as well as being Governor of NSW, was honorary colonel of the Regiment.
Some notable graduates
- Sir Roden Cutler VC
- David Hurley
- Douglas MawsonDouglas MawsonSir Douglas Mawson, OBE, FRS, FAA was an Australian geologist, Antarctic explorer and Academic. Along with Roald Amundsen, Robert Falcon Scott, and Ernest Shackleton, Mawson was a key expedition leader during the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.-Early work:He was appointed geologist to an...
- Bill O'ReillyBill O'Reilly (cricketer)William Joseph "Bill" O'Reilly , often known as Tiger O'Reilly, was an Australian cricketer, rated as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game. Following his retirement from playing, he became a well-respected cricket writer and broadcaster.O'Reilly was one of the best spin bowlers to...
- Max WillisMax WillisMax Frederick Willis RFD, ED, CSI, is a former Australian politician. He was a Liberal member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1970 to 1999. His brother Sir Eric Willis was briefly Premier of New South Wales in 1976....
- Victor WindeyerVictor WindeyerMajor General Sir William John Victor Windeyer KBE CB DSO and Bar PC KC Australian judge, soldier and educator, was a Justice of the High Court of Australia....
- Sir Errol Knox
- Edward Gough Whitlam AC, QCGough WhitlamEdward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
- Brigadier Sir Frederick Chilton CBE DSOFrederick Oliver ChiltonBrigadier Sir Frederick Oliver Chilton CBE, DSO & Bar was a senior officer in the Australian Army.Chilton was remembered as the last surviving commanding officer of the 2/2nd Infantry Battalion of the 6th Division; he was farewelled in Sydney by a handful of his former colleagues.The handful of...
- Justice Roderick Howie QC
- Major General (Justice) Paul Brereton AM, RFD, SC
- Captain Peter Collins AM, RFD, RAN, QCPeter Collins (Australian politician)Peter Edward James Collins, AM, RFD, QC was the Leader of the Opposition in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 4 April 1995 to 8 December 1998.-Early years and background:...
- John AquilinaJohn AquilinaJohn Joseph Aquilina , an Australian politician, is a former member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Blacktown between 1981 and 1991 and the electorate of Riverstone between 1991 and 2011 for the Australian Labor Party.Between 1986 and 1988 and again...
See also
- Officers' Training Corps (UK equivalent)
- Reserve Officers' Training CorpsReserve Officers' Training CorpsThe Reserve Officers' Training Corps is a college-based, officer commissioning program, predominantly in the United States. It is designed as a college elective that focuses on leadership development, problem solving, strategic planning, and professional ethics.The U.S...
(US equivalent) - Rifle regiment