1882 Pattern (Mark III) Valise Equipment waist belt : Tasmanian Military Forces

Buff leather waist belt, 1882 Pattern (Mark III) Valise Equipment (described in List of Changes 3994 13 January 1882) with Tasmanian Local Forces silver plated cast brass union locket buckle. The belt is made of one piece of leather (1 6/8 inches wide) with an adjustable billet and brass buckle at each end so the length can be adjusted while keeping the loops in their proper positions for braces when worn. Two retractable brass wire 'D' loops lie either side of the centre back of the belt to pass the ends of the braces through when a valise is not worn. A running loop lies at each end of the belt behind the buckle. A retangular leather safe with a slightly tapered and rounded end and a rectangular hole is stitched to the proper right running loop.The locket (tongue) of the buckle depicts a lion gartered by the words 'TASMANIAN LOCAL FORCES'. The surround depicts an eight-pointed star surmounted by a Queen Victoria pattern crown. A laurel wreath extends upwards on both sides towards the crown. A running loop lies at each end of the belt behind the buckle. A retangular leather safe with a slightly tapered and rounded end and a rectangular hole is stitched to the proper right running loop. The belt is stamped in ink at the centre back with 'T?G' (indicating that the belt was the property of the Tasmanian Government). A name has been handwritten on the back of the safe but is not legible.

The 1882 Pattern Valise Equipment replaced the 1871 pattern. It ws used well into the 1890s and was in service for some years after the introduction of the 1888 Pattern (Slade-Wallace) equipment. The complete equipment consisted of a waist belt, two ammunition pouches, a case and a strap for the Italian water bottle, a pair of braces, two straps for the valise or mess-tin, two straps for the mess-tin or great coat and a valise to hold clothing and personal equipment. It is not clear whether this particular buckle was used on the belts of officers or other ranks. The style of buckle without ornate scrolls on the sides suggests that this is a belt worn by other ranks. However, it would be unusual for silver plate buckles to have been used on belts issued to other ranks.