The New Guard was a paramilitary organisation that existed in Australia in the 1930s[1]. Though it had some members from other parts of Australia, its membership and support base was predominantly confined to the State of New South Wales and its capital city, Sydney. A paramilitary organization is a group of civilians trained and organized in a military fashion. ... Face The 1930s (years from 1930–1939) were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known in Europe as the World Depression. ... Capital Sydney Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Professor Marie Bashir Premier Morris Iemma (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 50  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $305,437 (1st)  - Product per capita  $45,153/person (4th) Population (End of March 2006)  - Population  6,817,100 (1st)  - Density  8. ... The Sydney Opera House on Sydney Harbour Sydney (pronounced ) is the most populous city in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 4. ...

They are usually, and particularly on the right side of Australian politics, described as a fascist organization [2], [3]. Fascism (in Italian, fascismo), capitalized, was the authoritarian political movement which ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943 under the leadership of Benito Mussolini. ...

The New Guard was founded in Sydney in February, 1931 by Col. Eric Campbell, a First World War veteran. Membership application forms set out the principles that the New Guard adhered to[4]: The Sydney Opera House on Sydney Harbour Sydney (pronounced ) is the most populous city in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 4. ... Year 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ...

• Loyalty to the British Throne and support for the British Empire
• Sane and honourable government in Australia
• Suppression of disloyal/immoral elements in government, industry and society
• Abolition of machine politics
• Maintaining individual liberty

Historical context

The stated ideology of the New Guard can be seen as a response to a perceived communist threat, given that one of the criticisms that was made of communism was that it took away individual freedom and was therefore antithetical to democracy. In the international context of the 1920s and 1930s, Stalin's rise to power in Russia was seen by critics of communism as further evidence of its dangers. Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a classless, stateless social organization based on common ownership of the means of production. ... The 1920s is a decade that is sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties, usually applied to America. ... Face The 1930s (years from 1930–1939) were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known in Europe as the World Depression. ... Iosif (usually anglicized as Joseph) Vissarionovich Stalin (Russian: Иосиф Виссарионович Сталин), original name Ioseb Jughashvili (Georgian: იოსებ ჯუღაშვი&#4314...

In addition, many First World War veterans had viewed the Russian Bolshevik armistice and treaty with Germany as a betrayal. It broke the 4 September 1914 agreement between the Entente powers not to conclude a separate peace with Germany or Austria-Hungary. Such revolution also went against the notion that subjects should remain loyal to their rulers. In any case, the agreement took Russia out of the war and allowed Germany to reallocate troops from the eastern front to the western front, making life more difficult for Australian troops. Anger over Russia's withdrawal led the other Entente members to carry out a small invasion of Russia in support of the Tsarists. “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Bolshevik Party Meeting. ... The first two pages of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, in (left to right) German, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Ottoman Turkish and Russian The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was a peace treaty signed on March 3, 1918, at Brest-Litovsk (now Brest, Belarus) between the Russian SFSR and the Central Powers, marking... is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The subject of this article was previously also known as Russia. ...

The 1930s was also the decade of the Great Depression. This caused extreme hardship around the world. Financial hardship in Australia meant that the possibility of popular uprisings did not seem so distant and remote. The name New Guard then, suggests not only the idea of guarding a set of values, but also physically guarding the community, if necessary, against revolution. There is certainly some irony in this, given that the organisation went on to plot the forcible removal of Premier Jack Lang from office. Face The 1930s (years from 1930–1939) were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known in Europe as the World Depression. ... The Great Depression was the result of the economic downturn that started with the stock market crash on October 29, 1929, known as Black Tuesday. ... John Thomas Lang (December 21, 1876 - September 27, 1975) was a prominent Australian politician during the early twentieth century. ...

New Guard and Jack Lang

International communism may have been seen by the New Guard as a potential threat. However, in New South Wales, Jack Lang's Labor government, which was elected in October, 1930, posed a more immediate problem. Many of the radical policies that Lang introduced during his term were not welcomed by the New Guard. In particular, his administration sought to default on foreign debt repayments at the height of the Great Depression. Much of the debt was owed to financial institutions in England. This step was therefore regarded as treasonous and disloyal to Britain. Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a classless, stateless social organization based on common ownership of the means of production. ... Capital Sydney Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Professor Marie Bashir Premier Morris Iemma (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 50  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $305,437 (1st)  - Product per capita  $45,153/person (4th) Population (End of March 2006)  - Population  6,817,100 (1st)  - Density  8. ... Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Great Depression was the result of the economic downturn that started with the stock market crash on October 29, 1929, known as Black Tuesday. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto)1 Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Monarch Queen Elizabeth II...

The New Guard also sought to oppose the doctrines and activities of Communists in Australia. However, once Lang and the Labor Party were soundly defeated in the elections of 11 June 1932, the New Guard lost its momentum. Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a classless, stateless social organization based on common ownership of the means of production. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... is the 162nd day of the year (163rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1932 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Membership and activities

While the New Guard began as a relatively peaceful outfit that used lawful means to advance its objectives, its platform was immediately popular with many First World War officers and veterans, and others with traditionalist beliefs and attitudes. The organisation's activities quickly descended into thuggery and street violence in a reaction to the Australian Labor Party and the Communist Party of Australia. The Communist Party of Australia was founded in 1920 and dissolved in 1991. ...

The New Guard was reputed to have over 50,000 members within Sydney alone (which had a population of 1.2 million at the time), and its membership was organised along strict military lines with ranks, divisions, drill parades and a large private arsenal. It achieved its greatest fame when a member, Captain Francis de Groot, an Irish-born veteran of the First World War and furniture maker, snuck into the official ceremonial parade on horseback at the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in his old 15th Hussars uniform and slashed the opening ribbon with a cavalry sword before Premier Jack Lang had the chance. De Groot declared the bridge open "in the name of the loyal and decent people of New South Wales", and was promptly arrested by a NSW State Police officer and taken to a mental asylum for examination. The ribbon was hastily re-tied and duly cut by Jack Lang. Colonel Francis Edward de Groot (24 October 1888 - 1 April 1969) holds a notorious place in Australian history for his high-profile upstaging of New South Wales Premier Jack Lang at the official opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. ... JULIUS IS GAY!!! The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the main crossing of Sydney Harbour carrying rail, vehicular, and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district (CBD) and the North Shore. ... The 15th The Kings Hussars was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1759. ...

Attempted kidnapping and civil unrest

Less well known than De Groot's exploits on the Harbour Bridge are the attempts to kidnap Jack Lang while he was being chauffered home along the Parramatta Road from his Parliament House office at night. This attempt was foiled because Lang had switched to a cheaper, older car and driven himself home. The plan had been to detain Lang in an unused gaol at Berrima, a village approximately 100km south-west of Sydney, stage a coup d'état and place NSW under martial law. Parramatta Road is the major historical east-west artery of metropolitan Sydney, Australia, connecting the City of Sydney with Parramatta. ... Historic courthouse in Berrima Berrima is a town in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. ...

On the evening of the dismissal of Jack Lang by Governor Sir Philip Game on 13 May 1932, a brigade of several hundred men of the New Guard were stationed in the basement of a department store building several hundred metres from Parliament House. They had threatened to march upon Parliament House and stage another coup attempt if he did not resign before seven o'clock. Lang was sacked at six o'clock. A civil war may well have ensued had they attempted the coup, as important government buildings throughout the city of Sydney were being guarded by members of the Australian Labor Army and the New South Wales Police (legally responsible to the Crown through Governor Game, but allegedly loyal to Lang's ministers). Certain Army officers, loyal to the Federal Government, were also members of the New Guard and might have been expected to bring out their troops in support of a coup. All in all, widespread civil strife and bloodshed was narrowly avoided in that one hour on an autumn evening in 1932. Air Vice-Marshal Sir Philip Woolcott Game (March 30, 1876–February 4, 1961) was a British Royal Air Force commander and Governor of New South Wales, Australia. ... is the 133rd day of the year (134th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1932 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Parliament House is the building in which a National (or State) Parliament sits. ... The New South Wales Police Force (NSW Police Force; previously New South Wales Police Service & New South Wales Police) is the primary law enforcement agency in the State of New South Wales, Australia. ...

Decline

After Lang's dismissal and subsequent electoral defeats, the New Guard waned in popularity, though they remained active right up until the start of the Second World War. Many of its members went on to help found the Australian League of Rights after WWII, which remains significant in Australian conservative and nationalist politics to this day. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... The Australian League of Rights is a political organisation in Australia that claims to uphold the virtues of freedom. ...

Further reading

• The Secret Army And The Premier (ISBN 0-86840-283-4). This book describes in detail the attempted coup on the night that John Lang was relieved of his commission of Premier of New South Wales