 In 1896 , in response to the establishment of an Irish @-@ Australian unit in the New South Wales citizen army , Neild raised a volunteer regiment that became St George 's English Rifles . He was promoted major of the regiment in July 1896 and lieutenant @-@ colonel in April 1898 , and frequently led his men , dressed as British soldiers , around Circular Quay to the tune of " The British Grenadiers " or " The English Gentleman " . Despite his promotions , Neild had no previous military experience , and in 1899 Lord Beauchamp , the Governor , wrote that his organisation was " in a state of ridiculous insubordination " . He was suspended around Easter of that year for publicly criticising a staff officer and encouraging insubordination ; following unfavourable findings by a military inquiry , Neild avoided dismissal only by investing considerable amounts of money into the regiment . 
