Trooper's undress jacket : Victorian Mounted Rifles Accession Number: REL/09943

Description

Pale khaki drab wool twill jacket with plain crimson superfine stand collar and pointed cuffs. Shoulder straps of the same khaki fabric lined with khaki green cotton sateen, each with a medium gilded brass 'AUT PACE AUT BELLO' button and brass 'A' and 'VMR' shoulder titles. Front of jacket has two darts radiating from the base of the neck at each side towards the breast pocket. Each pocket has a central pleat, a medium gilt Victorian Military Forces button and round pocket flap lined with khaki green cotton sateen. Five of the same buttons at the front. Back of jacket has centre back seam; all seams topstitched and no side vents. Two brass belt hooks at each side of the jacket. The jacket and sleeves are unlined except for a narrow strip of khaki green cotton sateen at the inside cuffs. Inside left front behind pocket stamped in white 'D ^ D' above a 'V' and '25.8.97'. This stamp also appears at lower left front and right shoulder. Collar lined with khaki green cotton sateen with same fabric neck tab. Neck fastens with two brass hooks and eyes. The side seams down to the belt hooks are reinforced with cream cotton strips. Written in ink, partially legible on left strip is 'G. Patterson' and ' aVmr'.

Contextual Description

This pattern of undress jacket was adopted by the Victorian Mounted Rifles in the early 1890s, the unit having first been raised in 1885. The jacket may have been worn by a G. Patterson whose history is unknown. The Victorian government stamp on the inside of the jacket dates it to 1897and the 'A' on the shoulder strap indicates that the trooper was part of 'A' Company. In 1897, 'A' company had a strength of 100 men in detatchments at Gisborne, Metropolitan Headquarters, Stony Creek, Yan Yean and Bacchus Marsh.