The New Guard
by
Emma Ellis

Abridged version

This article is an original piece of work researched and written by myself in accordance with my Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Western Sydney. This article is based on the 1930s right-wing organization, the ‘New Guard’. Although the New Guard was well addressed in the political arena, it generally distanced itself from political life, more so basing itself within military and social life. One of the most memorable moments of the New Guard was when Captain Francis de Groot slashed the ribbon at the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge on 19 March 1932. This was in a bid to stop Premier Lang from opening the bridge himself. This article outlines some of the background and beliefs of the organisation.

Origins
The New Guard was an association which demonstrated many aspects of political, military and societal life. . The reason for this is because post-1933, the leader of the organisation, Colonel Eric Campbell, strayed from original plans and started to take the organisation down political lines.

From the moment it was created by Eric Campbell in February 1931, the New Guard quickly gained speed and momentum, and by September 1931 it was reported that over 87,000 people had applied to join the invisible army. The objectives of the New Guard included ‘unswerving loyalty to the Throne’, ‘[s]ane and honourable representative Government’ within Australia, ‘[s]uppression of any disloyal and immoral elements’, ‘[a]bolition of machine politics’ and full liberty rights to the individual. This paramilitary organisation also made sure that it would work closely with other organisations which held the same values, in order to continue to promote the same ideas throughout society. Two key problems which the New Guard had to combat were the physical problem and the moral problem.

Organisation of the New Guard and links to the Shire

As a paramilitary organisation, the New Guard had zones, divisions and localities in order to define areas of New South Wales into bodies of troops. Along with the Metropolitan and Country Commands, there was also established an Air New Guard, a Harbour Guard, and a Sea New Guard efficiently covering all areas that may be needed when responding to the call of the Police. Personnel were divided into military and civil groups, and wore armbands and badges that defined rank. Robert Michael Derry of Gymea mentions in his memoirs that approximately four-hundred members of the New Guard trained within the parameters of ‘President Avenue, from Manchester Road to Sylvania, taking in what is today Walker Avenue and Pines Parade’ twelve months prior to the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This is significant information, as little has been recorded of the New Guard in general, let alone its activities within the Sutherland Shire. The only other records indicate where and when meetings were held. This strong military organisation of the New Guard then proceeded to be extensively established in April 1932, after the famous antics of Francis de Groot opening the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Please contact the editor for the complete article

Reference List

Derrey, R.M. ‘New Guard’ [Vertical File] of Sutherland Shire Library Local Studies.

‘Google Maps’ www.maps.google.com.au

Griffin, R. The Nature of Fascism, London: Routledge, 2004.

National Archives of Australia: Attorney-General’s Department; The New Guard 1931-1948, A432, 1931/1871.

National Archives of Australia: Eric Campbell; The New Guard and “The Association” 1930-1949, A367, C94121.
NAA: The Association (Post War) and the New Guard (Pre War) Vol 1 1931-1949, A6122, 2 Volume 1.

State Records NSW: NRS 10923, Police Special Bundles [10/1829 pt]
Moore, A. The Right Road: A History of Right-wing Politics in Australia. Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1995.

Bibliography
Books

Buckley, K. and Wheelwright, T. False Paradise: Australian Capitalism Revisited, 1915-1955. Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1998.
Campbell, E. The Rallying Point: My Story of the New Guard. Carlton: Melbourne University Press, 1965.

Griffin, R. The Nature of Fascism, London: Routledge, 2004.

Moore, A. The Right Road: A History of Right-wing Politics in Australia. Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1995.

Moore, A. The Secret Army and the Premier: Conservative Paramilitary Organisations in New South Wales 1930-32. Kensington:  New South Wales University Press, 1989.