The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Buff leather waist belt, Valise Equipment 1882 (Mark III) pattern (described in List of Changes 3994 13 January 1882) with Victorian Other Ranks nickel-plated cast brass union locket buckle. The belt is made from one piece of leather (1 3/4 inches wide) with an adjustable billet and brass buckle at each end so that 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. The locket (tongue) of the buckle depicts a crown similar to St Edward's and used during Queen Victoria's reign. The circular surround has the words 'AUT PACE AUT BELLO VICTORIA' (In Peace and in War). A running loop lies at each end of the belt in front of the buckle. A rectangular leather safe with a rectangular hole is stitched to the proper left running loop. The belt has no stamps or markings except for '$1.00' handwritten in small text in ballpoint pen ink on the back of the safe.
The 1882 Pattern Valise Equipment replaced the 1871 pattern. It served on 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. In 1893 the Victorian Military Forces adopted the motto 'PRO PATRIA ET DEO VICTORIA' (For God and Country) and waist belts made from this date use an updated locket. However the older version of the waist belt would have continued to be worn for some years until replaced.
Buff leather waist belt, Valise Equipment 1882 (Mark III) pattern (described in List of Changes 3994 13 January 1882) with Victorian Other Ranks nickel-plated cast brass union locket buckle. The belt
Buff leather waist belt, Valise Equipment 1882 (Mark III) pattern (described in List of Changes 3994 13 January 1882) with Victorian Other Ranks nickel-plated cast brass union locket buckle. The belt
Buff leather waist belt, 1882 (Mark III) pattern (described in List of Changes 3994 13 January 1882) with NSW Other Ranks cast brass union locket buckle. The belt is made of one piece of leather (1 5/
Buff leather waist belt,1882 Pattern (Mark III) Valise Equipment (described in List of Changes 3994 13 January 1882) with NSW Other Ranks cast brass union locket buckle. The belt is made of one piece
Buff leather waist belt, 1882 Pattern (Mark III) Valise Equipment (described in List of Changes 3994 13 January 1882) with NSW Other Ranks cast brass union locket buckle. The belt is made from two pi
Buff leather waist belt, 1882 Pattern (Mark III) Valise Equipment (described in List of Changes 3994 13 January 1882) with NSW Other Ranks cast brass union locket buckle.The belt is made of one piece
