Military uniforms of Colonial Australia

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Worn by Quartermaster Sergeant (QMS) Harry Looney. QMS Looney was born circa 1847 and entered into the service of Sir William Clarke, a Victorian landowner, in 1868. He became head coachman at Rupertswood, the Clarke family residence in Sunbury, Victoria, and Sir William's trusted retainer.

In 1884 Sir William fostered a militia corps called the Victorian Nordenfeldt Battery, also known as Rupertswood Battery or the Sunbury Regiment of the Victorian Horse Artillery.

Looney was appointed as the battery's first sergeant and 12 1/2 years later was promoted to the rank of quartermaster-sergeant. He served with the battery until it was disbanded in June 1897, shortly after the death of Sir William. During his period of service Looney won numerous military contest medals and awards. He was also part of the Rupertswood contingent which competed in a Royal Military Tournament in England in 1893, where his team came second in the riding and jumping section of the competition. At the age of 60 he qualified as a veterinary surgeon.

This jacket and other memorabilia was displayed in the waiting room of his surgery in Sunbury, Victoria. Looney died in 1930. Dark blue Eton-style full dress jacket with stand collar faced with red cloth, rounded in the front with a black leather tab behind the opening. The collar is fastened on the inside with a single hook and eye. On each shoulder gold bullion braid has been doubled to form shoulder straps fastened with a brass button bearing an oval garter beneath an Imperial crown. At the front of the jacket, on each side, are 13 loops of gold bullion braid, at the top of which the braid forms a crow's foot and swirl. On left breast of the jacket, below the second row of braid, is a brass hook by which the cap lines were attached to the jacket. On the inside of the jacket are 11 hook and eyes fastenings and on the outside of the jacket are 13 brass ball buttons an oval garter beneath an Imperial crown. On each sleeve cuff is an Austrian knot fashioned from gold bullion braid. On the reverse of the jacket, gold bullion cord is sewn near the back seams and fashioned into an Austrian knot at each side of the waist.

The right shoulder has three gold lace chevrons, denoting the rank of sergeant, on a red cloth backing. Directly above the chevrons, on a dark blue cloth backing, is a gold thread embroidered gun, signifying a senior non-commissioned officer as a gun sergeant. Above the embroidered gun is a gold thread embroidered eight pointed star on dark blue cloth backing. The body of the jacket is lined with red cotton cloth and the arms are lined with white cotton fabric with maroon stripes. Inside the left breast of the jacket is a pocket. The cap lines are of doubled gold bullion braid with two gold wire runners with which to adjust the line, and two gold wire acorns at each end. At the looped end of the line is a brass quick release catch that clips onto the head dress.

Light horse officer's khaki wool mess jacket with white wool shawl collar, shoulder straps and pointed cuffs.

The shoulder straps bear silver bullion and coloured silk embroidered rank pips for Lieutenant.

Each side of the collar bears silver badges for 13 Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry).

The body of the jacket is lined with light brown polished cotton. A small welt pocket is set into the right inside lining. The sleeves are lined with cream cotton printed with a pattern of fine lines and dots. Worn by Lieutenant Alexander Chisholm, (later Lieutenant Colonel, DSO, OBE, VD). Chisholm was born in Brisbane in 1878. He was a company director at Gympie, Queensland, when he enlisted as a Lieutenant on 20 August 1914.

He had previously served in the militia with 13 Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry). Chisholm was appointed to 2 Light Horse Regiment (LHR) but transferred to 1 LHR while serving on Gallipoli in August 1915. He was appointed Brigade Major of 1 Light Horse Brigade in March 1916, and from September 1918 served as a Staff Officer with the Australian Mounted Division. He returned to Australia on 26 July 1919. Between 1921 and 1924 Chisholm, as Lieutenant Colonel, commanded 5 LHR (militia) in Queensland. He died in 1945.

Officer's full dress scarlet superfine doublet with yellow facings, and white piping around top of collar, down front opening and around Inverness flaps. Collar is edged with gold lace and Russia braid and has separately applied gold embroidered thistle collar badges. Gold braid shoulder straps have embroidered pips for lieutenant. Cuffs are edged with gold lace and have three gold Russia braid 'buttonholes', each terminating in a button. Inverness flaps have the same pattern of braid and buttons. Concealed pockets inside right front and two front flaps. Body of doublet is lined with cream cotton, flaps with white cloth. Doublet is complete with gilt buttons bearing 'SAMF SCo' (South Australian Military Forces Scottish Company) above a thistle. There are no manufacturer's marks on the reverse of buttons.

South Australian Scottish Company

Officer's full dress scarlet superfine wool tunic with dark blue silk velvet stand collar, pointed cuffs and piping on each side of the tunic front, hem and false vents on the back skirt. The tunic fastens down the front with nine gilded brass New South Wales Military Forces buttons. There is a single brass hook on the left side seam at waist level to support a belt.

The sleeves are heavily laced with gold Russia braid eyes and padded Engineer's pattern gold bullion lace, extending as far as the elbow in the front, for the rank of lieutenant colonel. The twisted gold bullion braid Engineer's pattern epaulettes bear velvet, gold and silver bullion embroidered rank insignia for lieutenant colonel. The collar, which fastens with two hooks and eyes, is edged with gold bullion braid and Engineer's pattern gold lace.

There are silver bullion embroidered exploding grenade badges on either side of the collar. The body of the tunic is lined with cream cotton, which is quilted over the chest and under the arms, and the sleeves with red striped cream cotton. There is a concealed white cotton pocket inside the left chest. A short length of cream painted leather is sewn at waist level along the inside of the right front. There is a heavy duty brass hook and eye inside the waist to further secure the tunic. Beneath it is a smaller hook and eye that prevents the front shirts from blowing open in windy conditions. AWM photo & text

South Australian Colonial Military Forces Artillery officer's full dress blue superfine wool tunic with scarlet stand collar, scarlet piping on each side of the tunic front, and false vents on the back skirt. The tunic fastens down the front with nine gilded brass South Australian Artillery buttons.

There is a single brass hook on the left side seam at waist level to support a belt. The sleeves are heavily laced with artillery pattern gold bullion lace for the rank of lieutenant colonel.

The twisted gold bullion artillery pattern shoulder cords bear velvet, gold and silver bullion embroidered rank insignia for lieutenant colonel.

The collar, which fastens with two hooks and eyes, is edged with gold bullion cord and artillery pattern gold lace. There are frosted silver bullion embroidered exploding grenade badges on either side of the collar. The rear vent has artificial pocket flaps on each side and is trimmed with gold bullion cord, traced inside with gold Russia braid. Each flap bears three gilded brass South Australian Artillery buttons. There are also two buttons on the centre back waist. The body of the tunic is lined with black polished cotton, which is quilted over the upper body of the tunic, and the sleeves with brown striped cream cotton. There is a concealed pocket inside the left chest. AWM photo & text

"Lieut J. Warren". This is an original CDV photograph showing an Australian soldier seated in full uniform, with dress sword in hand by his side.

The soldier is identified as Lieutenant J. Warren.

Photographer: J.W.Lindt, 7 Collins Street East, Melbourne, Australia.
Date: Not dated, Johann William Lindt is recorded as being active at this address from 1876 to 1888.

This is an original CDV photograph showing the torso and portrait an Australian soldier full uniform. This is signed on the back "Lieut. R. Ryland, 24/7/1880", and has been incorrectly identified as Mr. Riley on the front under the image.

Photographer: Stewart & Co, 217 & 219 Bourke Street East, Melbourne, Australia.
Date: Signed on back on 24th July 1880.