41st Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment
The 41st Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment,, is an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. An Army Reserve unit, it is one of four battalions of the Royal New South Wales Regiment and is attached to the 5th Brigade, 2nd Division. It is based in northern New South Wales, with its headquarters in Lismore and depots in a number of locations including Taree, Tweed Heads, FGC (Grafton), Kempsey, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour. In its present form the battalion was raised in 1965, however, it can trace its lineage back to a couple of Scottish Rifles units formed in the 1800s in Byron Bay and Maclean. It also perpetuates the battle honours and traditions of the 41st Bn AIF, that served on the Western Front during World War I.
Bernard Gordon, the 41st Battalion's sole Victoria Cross recipient
Corporal Harbans Singh Mann, Assault Pioneer. 41st Battalion, Murwillumbah, Royal New South Wales Regiment
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 Australian Military Forces. In 1980, however, the current name—Australian Army Reserve—was officially adopted, and it now consists of a number of components based around the level of commitment and training obligation that its members are required to meet.
Members of the militia in Tasmania, c. 1913
A six-inch gun at Fort Nepean in August 1914. This gun fired Australia's first shot of the war when the German merchant ship SS Pfalz attempted to escape from Port Philip Bay on 5 August 1914.
Soldiers of the CMF 56th Battalion in 1937
Militia soldiers of the 39th Battalion following their relief at Kokoda in September 1942