On 22 June 1897 a procession of almost 47,000 men, 116 guns and 6,800 horses marched through London in celebration of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Among the procession were 20 men of the Queensland Mounted Infantry, commanded by Major Henry Venn King. The Queensland contingent was part of a force of 275 men sent by five of the Australian colonies to England.
The Queensland Mounted Infantry wore a drab coloured wool tunic with crimson collars and cuffs. This style of uniform had been widely adopted by mounted units in the Australian colonies, standing in contrast to the largely British-styled uniforms of most colonial volunteer forces, making it a uniquely Australian style. The Queenslanders were further distinguished by the emu plumes worn in their slouch hats.