11 Aug, 2023

City Welcomes Royal South Australian Regiment

A military ceremony dating back to medieval times will take place tomorrow, with up to 120 Defence Force personnel and two armoured vehicles to parade along the city streets.

Personnel from 10th / 27th Battalion of the Royal South Australian Regiment will exercise their “Freedom of Entry”.

The parade will commence from Victoria Square at approximately 10am, where commanding officer of the 10th / 27th Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Benveniste, will ask permission to pass from SA Police Assistant Commissioner Scott Duval.

Once permission is granted, the march will continue from Victoria Square, north along King William Street towards the Adelaide Town Hall, where the Freedom of Entry will formally be exercised.

The battalion will be joined by two Protected Mobility Vehicles (PMVs) as well as members of the 10th / 27th band in the procession, with SAPOL to facilitate rolling road closures as they make their way towards Adelaide Town Hall.

City of Adelaide Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith said it’s an important ceremony allowing our community to show support for the Australian Defence Forces.

“Tomorrow’s ceremony promises to be quite a spectacle with a mass formation in uniform, a couple of PMVs and the battalion band, with the ceremonial challenge taking place right outside Town Hall,” said the Lord Mayor.

“Many South Australians will have a close personal connection to this regiment, which was formed by the amalgamation of local infantry battalions across Adelaide.

“Freedom of Entry is an honour given by the city to a military unit, in recognition of their exceptional service to the community.

“It’s one of our oldest surviving traditional ceremonies dating back to medieval times when military forces were granted permission to enter a city with their swords drawn, drums beating, bands playing and colours flying. Without a Freedom of Entry agreement, which indicates peaceful intent, military forces would have been rebuffed at the city gates.”

WHEN:                        SATURDAY 12 AUGUST

                                    FROM 10:00 am UNTIL APPROX 11:00 am

WHERE:                      From the intersection of VICTORIA SQUARE and WAKEFIELD STREET the parade will take place along the                                          Eastern side of KING WILLIAM STREET and conclude at ADELAIDE TOWN HALL.

TRAFFIC IMPACT:     Between 10:00 am and 11:00 am - SA Police will facilitate rolling road closures.

Jack Berketa