1st NSW Volunteers Living History Group

07/12/2025

Soldier of the 3rd Waikato Militia.

During the invasion of Waikato in 1863-4, several thousand troops were enlisted from the Australian Colonies. The 1,2 and 4th Waikato Militia were recruited from Melbourne while the 3rd came from Sydney.


In total, over 2,000 men were recruited in the Australian colonies, about 1/3 of whom were born in Australia. They saw little action, though several died from illness and a few were wounded in action. Following the war, most remained in New Zealand where they were given farmland on the newly conquered territory.

The image below is one of the few surviving examples of a member of the militia, coming from the 3rd Regiment (Sydney).

07/12/2025

29/03/2025

On this day…

Th NSW Contingent arrives in the Sudan and disembarks at the port city of Suakin.

The contingent drew a lot of attention from the British in the area as they paraded from the docks in the bright red field frocks and blue trousers (despite white being seen in the image below). The average Australian soldier was also a couple of inches taller than his British counterpart, creating an imposing sight.

Despite there impressive appearance, it was determined that they stood out a little too much in contrast to the khaki clad British and so new dessert uniforms were soon issued as well as gaiters and full sets of webbing.

IMAGE: Landing of the Australian contingent at Suakin, Australian War Memorial Collection

03/03/2025

On this day...

140 years ago, the 1st NSW Infantry Regiment supported by a battery of the NSW Field artillery as well as an ambulance corps, departed Sydney Harbour for service in the Sudan.

The troops first formed up at Victoria Barracks before marching to Circular Quay under the es**rt of the Sydney Lancers (Later the NSW Lancers) who used the event as their first public outing. They were also parade with sailors of the Royal Navy stationed in Sydney. The men departed to much fanfare aboard the SS Iberia and Australiasian. As well as 758 men, the contingent also took hundreds of horses and an incredible amount of alcohol and luxury goods donated by the people of Sydney, most of which was later confiscated by the British authorities in Suakin much to the chagrin of the Australians.

The departure wasn't all celebration however, as when the ships left the harbor, they collided with a civilian ferry wishing them farewell. the crash led to the death of two civilians, a lady and her young baby. Her husband was one of the soldiers aboard the Iberia and it is believed he witnessed the tragedy. The Iberia did not stop until it reached Adelaide where the soldier was sent back to Sydney.

IMAGES: Australian War Memorial Collection