About This Unit
The 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles Regiment was formed at the Victoria Barracks in Sydney on 17 September 1888, under the name New South Wales Mounted Infantry. The unit was renamed New South Wales Mounted Rifles at the beginning of August. The regiment included three squadrons, and totaled 20 officers, 385 other ranks and 404 horses.[1]
The 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles served in South Africa for over a year. Their principle engaements include:[2]
Poplar Grove: 7 March 1900
Dreifontein: 10 March 1900
Bloemfontein: 14 March 1900
Karee Siding: 29 March 1900
Thaba 'Nchu: April 1900 (a detachment only)
Brandfort: 3 May 1900
Vet River: 5 May 1900
Zand River: 10 May 1900
Kroonstad: 12 May 1900
Lindley: 20 May 1900
Near Johannesburg: 29 May 1900
Pretoria: 4 June 1900
Diamond Hill: 11-12 June 1900
Heidelberg: 23June 1900
Wittebergen: July 1900
Palmietfontein: 19 July 1900
Vredefort: 24 July 1900
Venterskroom: 7 August 1900
Alexanderfontein: 14 August 1900
Boschfontein: 10 September 1900
Schoeman's Drift: 27 October 1900 (captured a Boer Krupp gun)
Bothaville: 5-6 November 1900
Honwater: 26 December 1900
Machadodrop: October and November 1900
The regiment was retitled as the 9th Light Horse and served in this capacity in the First World War.
Refrences:
[1] 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles | Australian War Memorial (awm.gov.au)
[2] Ibid.