Second World War 1st Royal New South Wales Lancers

an australian matilda frog flamethrower tank in borneo, 1945.

at start of second world war, due limitations of defence act (1903), prevented government sending militia fight outside australian territory, decided raise volunteer force serve overseas. force known second australian imperial force (2nd aif), , many of 1st light horse (machine gun) regiment s members volunteered. assigned 2/2nd machine gun battalion, took part in fighting in mediterranean theatre. in december 1941 regiment became 1st machine gun regiment , given first operational role securing northern newcastle beaches part of newcastle covering force.

in march 1942, regiment again renamed, being converted 1st motor regiment. change short lived however, , changed again in may 1st tank battalion, becoming part of 3rd army tank brigade, equipped matilda tanks. in 1943 unit became part of 4th armoured brigade , designated aif unit, allowing deployed theatre of conflict. later, after completing training in caboolture, queensland deployed new guinea in august 1943 supported 9th division fighting japanese 20th division around lae, on huon peninsula , around finschhafen, sattelberg , lakona. unit withdrawn australia in mid-1944. during fighting tanks had performed well, , despite difficult jungle terrain, suitability of matilda such operations had been proven australians employing combined arms tactics against japanese had no effective response.

on 1 june 1944, unit renamed 1st armoured regiment. unit spent next year in training, , during time based @ southport, queensland. in may 1945, took part in amphibious landings @ balikpapan in support of 7th division, being involved in 1 of final australian campaigns of war in borneo. landings took place on 1 july 1945 , had been preceded heavy bombing , shelling australian , air , naval forces. landing infantry, tanks—including newly modified matilda frog flamethrower tanks—mainly operated in small detachments in close support of troops, though terrain offered opportunity more mobile tactics employed. although australians successful, casualties among infantry heavy , during time regiment involved in hard fighting, japanese able make effective use of strong natural defences in conjunction minefields , anti-tank ditches in order compensate lack of anti-tank guns. fighting coming conclusion however, tank operations ceased on 24 july. in total, casualties suffered regiment during war included 14 dead.