| Place | Oceania: Australia, Victoria |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL/18070.001 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Uniform |
| Physical description | Cotton sateen, Ferrous metal, Silver bullion, Silver lace, Superfine wool |
| Maker |
W. K. Vale |
| Place made | Australia |
| Date made | c 1875 |
| Conflict |
Australian Colonial Forces, 1854-1900 |
Officer's full dress tunic : Prince of Wales Victorian Volunteer Light Horse
Description
Dark blue superfine wool tunic with short blue stand collar edged with silver lace and bearing a bullion embroidered star and crown for the rank of captain on each side of the collar. The front of the tunic is frogged with silver Russia braid and silver bullion knots. The centre fronts and tunic hem are edged with silver braid while the front fastens with braid loops and plaited silver bullion olivets. The olivet side of the centre opening has been cut with a wide serrated edge. The sleeve cuffs have Austrian knots in silver Russia braid for the rank of captain. On the wearer's right sleeve above the cuff decoration are embroidered gold bullion marksmanship badges on scarlet wool for the years 1867, 1868 and 1869. The back of the tunic is also decorated with silver Russia braid and knots which extend the full length of the back panel seams. There is a centre back vent opening on the skirt. The tunic and collar are fully lined with a dark olive cotton sateen with the front sections partially quilted. The sleeves are lined with a cream cotton twill. On the collar lining is a maker's label printed in ink ' W. K. VALE MILITARY TAILOR, 84 Swanston Street. K2' . Also handwritten in faint lettering is a name which possibly reads ' Smith (R or H) '.
History / Summary
In 1862, the units of the Mounted Volunteer Corps in Victoria were formed into a single regiment known as the Victorian Volunteer Light Horse. This title changed again in 1863, to the Prince of Wales Victorian Volunteer Light Horse ( Hussars ). In 1870 a uniform was adopted that was based on the British 19th Hussars. Troops were based at various times at Geelong, Ballarat, Kyneton, Bendigo, Castlemaine and Dandenong, as well as metropolitan Melbourne. In 1885, most of the Cavalry were incorporated into a newly formed Victorian Mounted Rifles.