"Help ID Australian uniform" Topic

This photo is my wife's great uncle. All the people who knew him have long since passed away so all we know is he went to Australia and was in the army, The photo appears to be a mounted uniform – perhaps the dress belt buckle is a clue? The bandolier looks a little odd too, maybe it is a photographer's prop.

Grateful for any ideas!

Thats a Light Horse uniform. Infantry/Rifleman mounted on a horse. Bandolier is authentic and carried extra .303 rounds for the British Lee Enfield Bolt Action Rifle and bayonet that were the main weapons. Note that as mounted infantry they carried no swords. Doctrine was to use horse for mobility then dismount for fighting – horseholders typically 1 man for 4 – 6 horses.

In World War I the Australian Light Horse won fame fighting dismounted at Gallipoli in the Dardanelles (Turkey) and then as light cavalry in Egypt, Palestine and Syria against the Turks and Germans. Some exploits covered in the feature films "Gallipoli" (an early Mel Gibson movie) and "The Light Horseman".

Australia was not a nation of federated States at the outset of the Boer War. Instead each Australian colony sent their own contingents of men to contribute to the British Imperial Force. British liked them for chasing the Boer Commandos (small mounted units of guerillas) across the Veldt.

The uniform could be pretty much any of the Colonial forces from any of the Australian Colonies – NSW Mounted Rifles, Victorian Mounted Rifles, etc. I had a great uncle in the NSW Mounted Rifles.

There is an excellent feature film on the subject called "Breaker Morant" that follows some of the exploits of the South Australian contingent in the Boer War. The figure in the photo above could have walked out of that film.

Hope this helps,

Nick

The bandolier says some horse formation, maybe Light Horse, Mounted Infantry or Lancers. The hat shape is unfamiliar and interestingly, there are no emu feathers or similar and no hat band so maybe not a combat arm.

Initially, I was thinking pre-war militia, however, at link are a couple of pics of the Australian Army Service Corps and the first one looks a close fit.

Any closeup of the epaulettes or belt clasp?

It looks pre-war (i.e. pre-1914) to me too.

I reckon Nick is correct. Looks Boer War period.

Also note: No pockets on skirt of the tunic (WW1 tunics had obvious pockets), no collar badges, bandolier equipment is not standard Post Federation 'Light Horse' issue, the pouches were more wedge shaped by WW1 and the Boer War Bandolier Equipment had visible cartridge loops for individual rounds (Boers loved this as the British were always dropping rounds which the Boers picked up.)

Definitely need an enlargement of the belt clasp.

Get in touch with the war memorial, thats your best bet to get an answer.

To me it looks pre war militia. The belt, hat and jacket don't ring any bells as a WW1 uniform.

His tunic with lancer cuffs & no skirt pockets & regimantal belt indicate he is most likely Boer War – I can't seem to find the pattern #of bandoleer but I'm fairly certain that is late 19thC also. You may want to take your question here:

link

Can't be Boer war as he was born in 1889. The Bandolier appears to be 1901 pattern but the uniform is older. Pre-war militia or territorial unit could well be right….(I was issued 1937 pattern web gear in 1976!)

Unfortunately we don't have the original negative so cannot get a close up of the details. I have seen photos of ALH troopers without the feathers or hat band so it doesn't necessarily exclude them pending further evidence. Looking for the style of tunic I found this photo taken at light horse camp at Menangle Park NSW in 1914

Great picture!

love the chauffeur option…

if you're trying for a date the style of chair and vase may be helpful too.

The Austrailans had their own pattern of leather bandolier equipment by WWI, see the Karkee Web site. So. although it differs from the British 1903 Pattern I think it is still WWI. Not that the uniforms and equipment had changed much from the Boer War. Might possibly be infantry, I can't see any spurs. The 1903 Bandolier Pattern equipment was also used by British Infantry, 'til supplanted by the 1908 Web pattern Equipment; and I'm sure the Australians would follow suit.

do you have his service number?? most of the records from that period have been made available on the web. if not just contact the australian war museam and you can get everything they have on him or they can point you in the right direction

i was able to find the enlistment papers and also his record sheet along with a bunch of other papers

its pretty scary stuff sometimes( i found out he served from gallipoli all the way through the western front)