| Place | Oceania: Australia, Victoria |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL/18403.004 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Uniform |
| Physical description | Brass, Buff leather |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Date made | c 1880 - 1893 |
| Conflict |
Australian Colonial Forces, 1854-1900 |
Officer's undress sword belt, cavalry pattern, with sword slings : Victorian Military Forces
Description
Officer's buff leather undress sword belt with sword slings (of unidentified cavalry pattern) with Officer's Victorian Military Forces cast and fabricated brass union locket buckle. The belt is made from three sections of leather joined by large brass rings (2 1/2 inches outside diameter) with the leather folded around the rings and proper right side of stitched down with four rows of stitching. The proper left end of the belt is not adjustable and fixes the buckle and a rectangular safe (tongue) to the belt. The proper right end has a brass buckle and holes for adjustment with a running loop. The longer sword sling (carriage) is a pointed billet and measures 25 inches in length; the shorter sling measures 12 inches in length. Both billets have been passed around their respective brass ring and sewn in place with three rows of stitching. The longer sling has a brass stud to replace its broken stitching lines. At the end of each sling is a short buff leather strap with a single bar brass buckle that buckles onto the sling. This strap is folded in half and sewn so as to narrow it for fitting it to the sword. The end of the strap is secured on a brass stud. A brass sword hook hangs from the proper left ring. The locket (tongue) of the buckle depicts a Queen Victoria pattern crown. The crown and the circular backing are not cast as one piece as with other locket buckles but are brazed on separately. The circular surround has the words ‘AUT PACE AUT BELLO VICTORIA’ (In Peace and in War). The sides of the buckle have an ancanthus leaf scroll. There are no maker's or acceptance marks stamped on the belt.
History / Summary
This particular belt has been associated with a warrant officer of the Victorian Engineers. The motto 'Aut Pace Aut Bello' was replaced with 'Pro Deo et Patria' (For God and Country) in 1893 so the manufacture of the buckle is dated to before this. This type of belt was likely to have been worn for undress uniform by a number of units including artillery units.