The Royal Military Tournament: the Victorian Horse Artillery in the Driving Competition - A sharp turn

Photogravure from the front page of 'The Graphic', 10 June, 1893 (unrelated text on verso). Caption reads: "The Australian Artillery were very successful during the Tournament. On one day both prizes for artillery-driving fell to their share, a result which was enthusiastically received by the spectators."

In 1893 the colony of New South Wales sent their regiment of lancers to the Royal Military Tournament that was being held at the Agricultural Hall, Islington, London. The Tournament had been held annually in London from 1880. In 1884 the Nordenfelt (Rupertswood) battery was raised at Sunbury in Victoria. In 1889 it changed its name to the Victorian Horse Artillery and was divided into two half batteries; the left half at Werribee park, run by the Chirnside family, and the right half at Rupertswood, run by the Clarke family. The Werribee battery was disbanded in 1893 while the Rupertswood battery continued until 1897. The Victorian Horse Artillery was a volunteer corps that reflected Melbourne's social hierarchies. Sir William Clarke was a wealthy landowner and grazier; his son Rupert commanded the battery. The Clarkes provided 60 horses for the horse artillery, at substantial cost.