World War I The 56th Battalion was originally formed on 14 February 1916 during the reorganisation and expansion of the
First Australian Imperial Force (AIF) that took place in
Egypt following the
Gallipoli campaign. This was achieved by transferring cadres of experienced personnel predominately from the
1st Division to the newly formed battalions and combining them with recently recruited personnel who had been dispatched as reinforcements from Australia. With an authorised strength of 1,023 men, the unit's first intake of personnel were drawn from men originating from
New South Wales, many of whom had already served with the
4th Battalion. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Allan Humphrey Scott, the battalion formed part of the
14th Brigade attached to the
5th Australian Division. , 1916. After a period of training in Egypt, the AIF's infantry divisions were transferred to Europe to fight on the
Western Front. Arriving in
Marseille on 30 June 1916, the 56th Battalion was transported to northern France and within a fortnight was committed to the
Battle of Fromelles, where the 5th Division undertook a disastrous attack that was later described as "the worst 24 hours in Australia's entire history". The 56th, along with the rest of the division, suffered heavy casualties, but was not withdrawn from the line until two months later. After enduring the coldest winter in 40 years in the Somme, during early 1917 the battalion took part in the brief advance the Allies enjoyed as the Germans withdrew to the
Hindenburg Line, before undertaking a defensive role during the
Second Battle of Bullecourt, and then launching an attack at
Polygon Wood in September. This unit did not see any further action before the war ended in November and together they were later amalgamated with the rest of the 14th Brigade, with the 56th Battalion being disbanded on 10 April 1919. Upon formation, the battalion drew personnel from two previously existing units, the 2nd Battalion, 56th Infantry Regiment and the 5th Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment. In 1927, when territorial titles were adopted, the battalion became known as "The Riverina Regiment". It also received an official motto, that of
Trutina Probatus at this time. In 1937, the battalion became allied to the
Gloucestershire Regiment. During
World War II, the 56th Battalion undertook garrison duties in New South Wales and
Western Australia, as part of the
5th Brigade of the
2nd Division. In 1943, the battalion was gazetted as an AIF unit after the majority of its personnel volunteered to serve outside of Australian territory, nevertheless, it did not serve overseas, and was disbanded on 9 June 1944. After the war, the battalion was not reformed until July 1956 when it was re-raised as the 56th Reconnaissance Battalion (Riverina Regiment). It was disbanded again in September 1957. Along with the 7th/21st Australian Horse it formed the basis of the reformed
4th Battalion, which was raised in 1958 and later became part of the
Royal New South Wales Regiment. ==Alliances==