The Royal Military Tournament: A fight between the police and bushrangers- the New South Wales Volunteers to the rescue

In 1893 the colony of New South Wales sent over their regiment of lancers to the Royal Military Tournament that was being held at the Agricultural Hall, Islington, London. The spectacle that was put on for the audience had a distinctive Australian flavour; "a fight between bushrangers and mounted police, originating in the robbery of some horseflesh from a station, is waged with commendable energy, and the result hangs in the balance until the cavalry arrive upon the scene, and bring about the retreat of the marauders."

The Royal Military Tournament was held annually in London from 1880. A New South Wales Lancers tournament team sent to the 1899 tournament were in London when the Boer War began. Some members of this team immediately volunteered themselves, and they became the first Australian troops in South Africa.

'The Graphic' began in 1869 as a competitor with the 'Illustrated London News', and like their name suggests, they focussed on printing lavish images that were more dynamic than those of the 'Illustrated London News'. This engraving captures the thrilling action of the New South Wales Colony's military display, including equestrian skills and the pennants held by the New South Wales Lancers. These pennants would have been red and blue, the colours of St George.