48-719: The New South Wales Mounted Rifles was a mounted infantry regiment of the Colony of New South Wales . The regiment was formed at the Victoria Barracks , Sydney on 17 September 1888, as the New South Wales Mounted Infantry . The regiment was renamed on 1 August 1893, as the New South Wales Mounted Rifles . This retitling was to clearly show that their role was that of mounted rifles not mounted infantry. A company of
96-418: A brother-in law of Darling's first Lieutenant-Governor, William Stewart . Those same favoured people received appointments within his administration. He employed his nephew, Charles Henry Darling , as an assistant private secretary. In keeping with official policy and the governor's own disciplinarian instincts, Darling's administration certainly strengthened the punitive aspects of transportation . Perhaps
144-524: A long bill of indictment against the Governor. On 8 July 1828, Mr. Stewart, a member of the British House of Commons, rose to move for "papers connected with the case of Joseph Sudds and Patrick Thompson". The "rascally newspapers" had not been idle either, and "Miles", a correspondent of the Morning Chronicle, took up the cudgels for Mr. Wentworth. The Morning Chronicle commented severely on
192-590: A post he held until his death. Darling died in Brighton on 2 April 1858 at the age of eighty-six, survived by his widow, three sons and four daughters. On 13 October 1817, Darling married the 19-year-old Elizabeth Dumaresq , known as Eliza (1798–1868). She was the daughter of Colonel John Dumaresq, a landowner in Shropshire . The marriage was a happy one. Of ten children, four daughters and three sons survived to adulthood. Eliza's widowed mother Ann Dumaresq
240-583: A theatre in Sydney". He even introduced a law effectively banning the performance of drama. The law stated that no form of public entertainment could take place without approval from the colonial secretary, and Darling ensured that all such applications were rejected. He did permit concerts of music to take place. His departure for England, upon the ship Hooghly , was greeted by public rejoicing, but his modern biographer has described this display as being "orchestrated by his opponents". Darling sought to ensure
288-684: The Australia Act 1986 , the states of Australia achieved independence from the United Kingdom as constituents of Australian confederation. The Act followed discovery that, when Australia ratified the 1931 Statute of Westminster, only the federal state became independent of the United Kingdom due to State concerns of a grab for power by the Commonwealth Government. The 1986 Act ended the British government's authority over
336-488: The Australian , run by William Wentworth and Robert Wardell ). Darling tended to rely upon like-minded military men for his administration, and it was soon subject to criticism for nepotism and favouritism. That criticism, as well as the accusations of tyrannical rule, could not be stifled. Darling's predecessor, Thomas Brisbane , had ended press censorship, creating in effect press freedom before Darling arrived in
384-619: The Commonwealth of Australia . At its greatest extent, the colony of New South Wales included the present-day Australian states of New South Wales , Queensland , Victoria , Tasmania , and South Australia , the Northern Territory as well as New Zealand . The first responsible self-government of New South Wales was formed on 6 June 1856 with Sir Stuart Alexander Donaldson appointed by Governor Sir William Denison as its first Colonial Secretary . On 18 January 1788,
432-630: The Darling River and Darling Harbour in Sydney . Darling seems to have been unique in the British Army of this period, as he progressed from an enlisted man to become a general officer with a knighthood . Born in Ireland, he was the son of a sergeant in the 45th Regiment of Foot who subsequently gained the unusual reward of promotion to officer rank as a lieutenant . Like most of
480-684: The First Fleet led by Captain Arthur Phillip founded the first British settlement in Australian history as a penal colony . Having set sail on 13 May 1787, Captain Arthur Phillip assumed the role of governor of the settlement upon arrival. On 18 January 1788, the first ship of the First Fleet, HMS Supply , with Phillip aboard, reached Botany Bay . However, Botany Bay was found to be unsuitable by Phillip. After Phillip led
528-600: The Hunter Valley . In 1826 he also defined the Nineteen Counties in accordance with a government order from Lord Bathurst , the Secretary of State in the British parliament; these were the limits of location in the colony of New South Wales. Settlers were only permitted to take up land within these counties. From 1831 the granting of free land ceased and the only land that was to be made available for sale
SECTION 10
#1732798479301576-587: The Walcheren Expedition , before returning to the headquarters at Royal Horse Guards in London, where he served for almost a decade as head of British Army recruiting. In this role, Darling was subsequently promoted to brevet colonel on 25 July 1810, major general on 4 June 1813, and deputy adjutant general in 1814. General Darling was also able to further the careers of his younger brothers Henry and William, and subsequently his nephew Charles ;
624-470: The 1891 Census: The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia agreed to unite and form the Commonwealth of Australia , establishing a system of federalism in Australia. This effectively changed New South Wales from being a colony to a state of Australia. In
672-471: The 6th Motor Regiment (NSW Mounted Rifles) and retitled 1949 as the 6th NSW Mounted Rifles. Reorganised as an Infantry battalion in 1956 it was disbanded and merged into the newly formed Royal New South Regiment in 1960. Notes Bibliography Colony of New South Wales The Colony of New South Wales was a colony of the British Empire from 1788 to 1901, when it became a State of
720-723: The Australian Constitution. But as the Australian monarch can act only on the advice of the Australian Prime Minister, those two provisions are effectively dead letters. Ralph Darling General Sir Ralph Darling , GCH (1772 – 2 April 1858) was a British Army officer who served as Governor of New South Wales from 1825 to 1831. He is popularly described as a tyrant, accused of torturing prisoners and banning theatrical entertainment. Local geographical features named after him include
768-518: The Australian colonies. Wentworth, who was also famous for crossing the Blue Mountains with Blaxland and Lawson , became the Colony's leading political figure of the 1820s–30s. He called for representative government, the abolition of transportation, freedom of the press and trial by jury. Wentworth became the most bitter enemy of Governor Ralph Darling and his 'exclusives' led by
816-479: The Australian continent, ceased to be under the control of New South Wales and was placed under the authority of the Lieutenant Governor of Van Diemen's Land . He proclaimed Van Diemen's Land as a separate colony on 3 December in 1825. On 16 April 1831, Darling issued a proclamation banning trade in heads out of New Zealand saying that there was reason to believe that the trade tended to increase
864-540: The Government expressed itself fully satisfied with the conduct of Sir Ralph Darling. Wentworth having got for Governor Major-General Sir Richard Bourke (who was generally liked), turned his attention to other pursuits. Wentworth published in England a series of pamphlets containing an account of this whole business. Governor Darling is also said to have "ruthlessly and implacably countered all attempts to establish
912-486: The Governor on all sides, and he was accused of wilful murder"; after Sudds' death Thompson was taken in a bullock-cart to Penrith gaol, and thence conveyed to "No. 1, Iron-chain-gang party" on Lapstone-hill , being at the face of the Blue Mountains. At three o’clock on the first day he was taken out and set to work with the gang, having the spiked collar that had killed Sudds on his neck the whole time. After eight hot days of this work Thompson refused to continue working and
960-406: The capital city. On 10 December 1859, a proclamation was read by British author George Bowen , whereby Queensland was formally separated from the state of New South Wales. As a result, Bowen became the first Governor of Queensland. On 22 May 1860 the first Queensland election was held and Robert Herbert , Bowen's private secretary, was appointed as the first Premier of Queensland . According to
1008-480: The colony. Darling's subsequent attempt to control the press through new legislation failed, because the Chief Justice, Francis Forbes , advised that the measures were not compatible with the laws of England. It is certainly the case that Darling made land grants to relatives, including his brothers-in-law Henry and William Dumaresq , and others that he favoured, such as George Bowen and Stewart Ryrie ,
SECTION 20
#17327984793011056-544: The conduct of the Tory Governor of New South Wales. The Tory papers duly retaliated, but eventually Darling moved to resign. The controversy still persisted, and lasted years after Governor Darling's resignation – with the Whig party clamouring for vengeance, and with "Miles", persistently chronicling all of Darling’s misdeeds in order to seek that Darling be tried for his life. There was, however, no "trial for murder" and
1104-416: The convicts and others. Thus, the Colony of New South Wales was formally proclaimed on 7 February 1788. Before that, British naval administration applied. The colony faced extreme difficulty in its earliest years from water scarcity. Major-General Ralph Darling was appointed Governor of New South Wales in 1825, and in the same year he visited Hobart Town, and on 3 December proclaimed the establishment of
1152-405: The education of child prisoners, improve the treatment of female convicts, and promote the use of Christian teaching as a means of rehabilitation, and he made efforts to give the indigenous population the protection of British justice. The annual distribution of blankets to Aboriginal people was initiated by him in 1826, originally as rewards to those who assisted in the capture of bushrangers at
1200-406: The election of the first Victorian Legislative Council , and the absolute independence of Victoria from New South Wales was established proclaiming a new Colony of Victoria . A public meeting was held in 1851 to consider Queensland 's proposed separation from New South Wales. On 6 June 1859, Queen Victoria signed Letters Patent to form the separate Colony of Queensland . Brisbane was named as
1248-548: The exploration of Port Jackson , he sailed and reached Sydney Cove on night of 25 January 1788. On the morning of 26 January, men on board this ship went ashore and started clearing land for a camp. In the afternoon-evening, they erected a flag pole, raised the Union Jack, and the officers ashore made toasts to the Royal Family and the success of the colony. Likely, some, or all, ships of the First Fleet were present for
1296-570: The fact that British rule in Mauritius was still little more than military occupation of a proud French colony . Notwithstanding the criticism from some quarters, it was largely on account of his service in Mauritius that Darling was appointed the seventh Governor of New South Wales in 1824. Darling initiated the construction, from 1826, of the convict-built Great North Road , linking the Hawkesbury settlements around Sydney with those in
1344-435: The fact that he was not given any significant new military or political assignments, but further promotion and various honorific appointments did follow, and he was happy to devote much of his time to raising his young children. He was given the colonelcy of the 90th Regiment of Foot in 1823, transferring as Colonel to the 41st (Welch) Regiment of Foot in 1837 and to the 69th (South Lincolnshire) Regiment of Foot in 1848,
1392-515: The facts of the case leaked out"; "the ingenious Darling had placed round their necks spiked iron collars attached by another set of chains to the ankle fetters. The projecting spikes prevented the unhappy men from lying down at ease, and the connecting chains were short enough to prevent them from standing upright. Under the effects of this treatment Sudds had died. Public fury now knew no bounds. Tradesmen put up their shutters as though in mourning for some national calamity. The fiercest denunciations met
1440-520: The family, young Ralph was granted an officer's commission as an ensign on 15 May 1793, without having to make the usual payment . The new officer soon found opportunities to show his ability, alternating front-line activity and high-level administrative duties, and in August 1796 he was appointed as military secretary to Sir Ralph Abercromby , the British commander-in-chief in the West Indies. By
1488-411: The flag raising. On the morning of 27 January, all the fit male convicts, marines, and likely some ships' crew went ashore to establish the camp and find food. The female convicts came ashore on 6 February 1788. About midday on 7 February, the convicts, marines and others who were staying were gathered by the Governor for the reading of the proclamation of New South Wales and a long reading of the rights of
New South Wales Mounted Rifles - Misplaced Pages Continue
1536-680: The independent colony, of which he was Governor for three days. In 1834, the British Parliament passed the South Australia Act 1834 , which enabled the colony of South Australia to be established. On 16 November 1840, the British government issued the Charter for Erecting the Colony of New Zealand . The Charter stated that the Colony of New Zealand would be established as a Crown colony separate from New South Wales on 1 July 1841. On 1 July 1851, writs were issued for
1584-407: The most controversial act of his tenure was the harsh treatment of soldiers Joseph Sudds and Patrick Thompson, who had committed theft in the belief that seven years in an outlying penal colony would be an easier life than two decades of army discipline. As an example to others, the Governor had them placed in irons and assigned to a chain gang , leading to the death of Sudds. Some believe this death
1632-558: The regiment served in the Second Boer War in 1899, before they were amalgamated into the 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles , as "A" Squadron. This regiment consisted eventually of five squadrons. In 1901, two more regiments of NSW Mounted Rifles, the 2nd and 3rd were sent to the war. The original NSW Mounted Rifles remained in existence for the duration of the war on home service with the additional responsibility for recruiting soldiers for regiments going to South Africa. In 1902 it
1680-419: The regiment was used to re-raise the 6th Light Horse Regiment . and therefore was entitled to carry the 6th Australian Light Horse battle honours from World War 1 on its guidon. In 1941 it was mobilized as the 6th Motor Regiment (New South Wales Mounted Rifles) and in 1942 it was retitled the 6th Australian Armoured Car Regiment. It saw only home service before being disbanded in 1943. It was reraised in 1948 as
1728-485: The request of the Bathurst magistrates. Ralph Darling left Australia in 1831, returning to England in 1832. Continuing pressure from political opponents led to the formation of a select committee to examine his actions in Australia, but the inquiry exonerated him, and the day after it concluded, he was knighted by the king in a dramatic display of official favour. The controversy in Australia may have contributed to
1776-629: The sacrifice of human life. Darling was a professional soldier, military governor of what was still effectively a penal colony under martial law , and having lived entirely within the authoritarian structure of the army since childhood, he lacked experience in dealing with civilian society. As a result, he came into conflict with the liberal "emancipists" who wished to introduce greater political and social freedom in New South Wales. Their accusations of tyrannical misrule were publicised by opposition newspapers in England and Australia (including
1824-479: The six Australian unitary states in confederation, just as it had ceased to have authority over the Commonwealth during the inter-war period. All colonial-era laws were no longer were subject to Imperial powers of disallowance and reservation. Acts of the federal state, i.e. the Commonwealth of Australia, remain subject to power of disallowance and reservation by the monarch of Australia, per sections 59 and 60 of
1872-478: The small number of former non-commissioned officers in this position, Lieutenant Darling performed only regimental administrative duties. He struggled to support his large family on a subaltern 's pay. Ralph Darling enlisted at the age of fourteen as a private in his father's regiment, and served in the ranks for at least two years on garrison duty in the West Indies . Eventually, as an "act of charity" to
1920-468: The three brothers all became generals, and Charles also earned a knighthood. Darling married in 1817. Between February 1819 and February 1824, General Darling commanded the British troops on Mauritius , before serving as acting governor of the colony for the last three years of his stay. In this role, Darling again exhibited his administrative ability, but he also became very unpopular in Mauritius: he
1968-535: The time he returned to Great Britain in 1802, still aged only twenty-nine, the sergeant's son and one-time private soldier was a highly respected lieutenant-colonel. During the Napoleonic Wars , Colonel Darling alternated between periods of regimental command and important administrative appointments, leading the 51st Regiment of Foot at the Battle of Corunna and serving as assistant adjutant general during
New South Wales Mounted Rifles - Misplaced Pages Continue
2016-464: The wealthy grazier John Macarthur . In one account disfavourable to the Governor written by Marcus Clarke the following claims regarding Governor Darling's "act of tryanny" of 22 November 1826 are made: "it was given forth that Sudds had died from combined dropsy and bronchitis. Mr. Wentworth – a native-born Australian barrister, of some eloquence and intense capacity for hating – would not rest satisfied with this explanation, and little by little
2064-807: Was a devout philanthropist, and lived in Cheltenham . Eliza was influenced by Hannah More and Sarah Trimmer . In Australia, she consulted the penal reformer Elizabeth Fry , with reference in particular to female convicts. She was also involved in the establishment of the Female School of Industry at Parramatta . After Darling's position in New South Wales ended, the family returned to England. They lived at Cheltenham, then Brighton where Darling died in 1858. The following features are named after Ralph Darling or members of his immediate family: The Logan River in South-East Queensland
2112-408: Was accused of allowing a British frigate to breach quarantine and start an epidemic of cholera, and he then suspended the island's Conseil de Commune when it protested his actions; in reality, however, there was no evidence that the frigate had been carrying cholera, and the opposition to General Darling appears to have been motivated in large part by his vigorous actions against the slave trade , and
2160-410: Was officially downplayed. It was stated as having been due to a pre-existing illness which the Governor had not been properly informed about. However, the incident proved intensely and persistently controversial at the time and formed a major element in the rising career of Mr William Charles Wentworth as a political thorn in the side of the establishment and a leading advocate for the self-government of
2208-484: Was responsible for directly recruiting a squadron of 5th Australian Commonwealth Horse . Following the war, the regiment was retitled as 2nd Light Horse Regiment (New South Wales Mounted Rifles) in 1903, renumbered 9th Light Horse in 1908 and served in this capacity including home service in World War One until the 1920s. After the re-organisation of Australia's part-time military forces at the end of World War 1,
2256-454: Was taken to gaol and was finally sent on board the hulks. What became of him seemed unknown to some but he was eventually ordered to rejoin his regiment (Sydney Gazette, 28 March 1829), and was sent back to England in October 1829 (Australian, 23 October 1829). Having gathered considerable evidence of his own, Wentworth wrote to Sir George Murray , the Secretary of State, and forwarded to him
2304-415: Was within the Nineteen Counties . When Darling was commissioned as governor, the Colony's western boundary – set in 1788 at 135 degrees east longitude – was extended by 6 degrees west to the 129 degrees east longitude . This line of longitude subsequently became the border dividing Western Australia and South Australia . To the south, everything beyond Wilsons Promontory , the southeastern 'corner' of
#300699