STATUTORY RULES.
1919. No. 54.
REGULATIONS UNDER THE DEFENCE ACT 1903-1918.
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL in and over the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Defence Act 1903-1918 to come into operation forthwith.
Dated this twelfth day of March, 1919.
R. M. FERGUSON,
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
E. J. RUSSELL,
Acting Minister of State for Defence.
Amendment of the Australian Military Regulations 1916.
The Australian Military Regulations 1916 are amended as follows:—
(1) Regulation 216 is amended by deleting the words—
“Warrant officers and non-commissioned officers when wearing swords will salute with the right hand, irrespectively of the side on which the officer saluted may be passing.”
and inserting the following words in lieu thereof:—
“Warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men will salute with the right hand, irrespectively of the side on which the officer saluted may be passing.
In cases where from physical incapacity a right hand salute is impossible, the salute will be given with the left hand.”
(2) Regulation 855 is amended by inserting the sign “*” next after the words “Conduct Sheets (Guard Book)” and inserting the following footnote to the regulation:—
* These will only be kept when an entry becomes necessary. They will not be used in the case of persons liable for training under Part XII. of the Act for whom the Record Book is provided.
(3) Regulation 867 is repealed and the following regulation made in lieu thereof:—
“867. The service of a voluntarily enlisted soldier in the Permanent Forces or Militia Forces will be recorded on his attestation paper.”
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
Overview
The Statutory Rules 1919 No. 54, issued under the Defence Act 1903-1918, were introduced to address and refine various military regulations that were in place during and shortly after the First World War. Enacted by the Governor-General in the Commonwealth of Australia, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, these regulations aimed to update and improve the operational efficiency and fairness within the military by amending certain provisions of the Australian Military Regulations 1916. The policy objective was to ensure that the military regulations remained relevant and effective in managing the conduct and organisation of the armed forces, particularly addressing practical issues such as the method of saluting and the maintenance of service records for voluntarily enlisted soldiers.
Scope and Application
The Statutory Rules of 1919, No. 54, enacted under the Defence Act 1903-1918, pertains to the regulation and amendment of the Australian Military Regulations of 1916. These regulations apply to the members of the Australian military, including warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted men, governing their conduct and ceremonial procedures, such as the manner of saluting officers. The amendments made by this legislative instrument are specific to the operational conduct of military personnel, adjusting the procedures for recording service and the use of conduct sheets. The geographic scope of these regulations is nationwide, as they apply to all members of the Australian military, irrespective of their location within the Commonwealth. These regulations do not extend beyond the military context and do not apply to civilians or other entities outside the military framework. The amendments are specific and do not introduce any new exclusions or exemptions; they refine the existing regulations to accommodate changes in military practices and to clarify the conditions under which certain records are maintained.
Key Provisions
The key operative sections of these regulations include the amendment of Regulation 216 (1) and the insertion of a footnote into Regulation 855 (2). Regulation 216 (1) modifies the protocol for saluting officers by warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, requiring them to salute with the right hand regardless of the officer's position. It also provides an exception for those physically unable to salute with the right hand, permitting them to salute with the left hand. Regulation 855 (2) introduces a footnote specifying that Conduct Sheets, also known as Guard Books, will only be maintained when necessary and will not be used for persons liable for training under Part XII of the Act, for whom a Record Book is provided instead. Additionally, Regulation 867 is repealed and replaced with a new provision that mandates the recording of a voluntarily enlisted soldier’s service on their attestation paper.
The obligations imposed by these regulations primarily focus on adherence to the amended saluting protocol and record-keeping practices. Personnel are required to salute officers with the right hand, with allowances made for those who cannot physically do so with their right hand. Additionally, the regulations mandate that Conduct Sheets (Guard Books) are only to be used when necessary and specify that they will not be used for individuals who have a Record Book under Part XII of the Act. The new regulation also ensures that the service of voluntarily enlisted soldiers is documented on their attestation papers.
Failure to comply with these regulations may lead to various consequences. While specific offences and penalties are not explicitly stated in the provided text, breaches of military regulations generally carry serious implications, potentially including disciplinary actions, fines, or other penalties as prescribed by military law. The exact consequences would depend on the specific breach and the internal disciplinary procedures of the military.