Officer's mess jacket : Victorian Permanent Artillery

Dark blue superfine mess jacket with pointed fronts, scarlet stand collar and shallow pointed cuffs. Upper edge of collar decorated with gold artillery pattern lace that extends down the fronts and lower edge of the jacket forming bull's eyes at the centre back. Lower edge of collar trimmed with narrow gold Russia braid. The collar edges bear embroidered silver bullion grenade badges. Round gold cord shoulder cords of artillery pattern lined with dark blue superfine, each with a Victorian Permanent Artillery button of the 1893-1903 period, but with no rank badges. Each cuff decorated with gold Russia braid Austrian knots for the rank of lieutenant and two small gilded brass artillery buttons. Left front edge has a row of decorative gilt studs although jacket fastens with brass hooks and eyes. On the left front is a piece of green silk medal ribbon for the Volunteer Officers' Decoration. Jacket and sleeves lined with quilted scarlet silk twill with concealed pocket inside the left breast. Collar has been re-lined with fine black wool with printed fabric maker's label stitched to back neck. Label also bears the date '9.12.96' and the name of a lieutenant, only partially legible.

Lieutenant's mess jacket is of the pattern used by the Royal Artillery of the British army. The Victorian Permanent Artillery was formed in 1870 but disbanded in 1880. It was reformed in 1882 as Victorian Garrison Artillery until absorbed into the Royal Australian Artillery just prior to Federation in 1901.

• Overalls : Victorian Artillery