Sporran : The Duke of Edinburgh's Highland Volunteer Rifle Corps

Place Oceania: Australia, New South Wales, Sydney
Accession Number REL34545
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Uniform
Physical description Horse hair, Leather, Silver-plated metal, White metal
Maker McLean, J
Place made Australia: New South Wales, Sydney
Date made c 1870-1878
Conflict Australian Colonial Forces, 1854-1900
Description

Horsehair and leather sporran worn by members of The Duke of Edinburgh's Highland Volunteer Rifle Corps, circa 1870-1878. The sporran has a brown leather back bound around the lower edge with black patent leather and across the pouch opening with red morocco leather. Two leather keepers are sewn to the leather above the pouch opening to attach the sporran to a belt. The white leather on the front of the sporran has six rows of white horsehair stitched to it as well as six black horsehair tassels suspended from fine silver chains. A white metal cone fits over the top of each tassel. The head of the sporran is bound with silver plated metal, which extends over the front side only in a semi-circular plate engraved with a thistle pattern. It is secured to the leather body by two brass screws and nuts. In the centre of the plate is a silver badge bearing a Victorian Crown surmounted by a lion, on a stippled circular ground. Around the edge are the words 'THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S HIGHLAND VOLUNTEER RIFLE CORPS'. The silver binding on the back of the sporran is stamped with the manufacturer's details' KFR J.McLEAN SYDNEY'.
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History / Summary

The Duke of Edinburgh's Highland Volunteer Rifle Corps were a volunteer unit formed in Sydney in 1868 in response to an outburst of patriotic emotion following the visit to Australia of HRH Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, second son of Queen Victoria. With strong support from the Sydney Scottish community the Corps maintained a strength of two companies until 1878, when it was disbanded. Full Highland dress, of which this sporran is a part, was adopted in 1870. The uniform included a feather bonnet, doublet and kilt in Black Watch tartan.