12th Australian Light Horse (Tasmanian Mounted Infantry)
 

Hello all,
I'd like some help to find out more about this badge. I gather from web info that it could be fairly scarce. Also is it classed as a Colonial Badge?

It's brass and approx. 62mm high x 50mm wide.

Was it a cap or a helmet plate? It has east, west lugs but there also appears to be what could be a missing fixing point at the top. Not sure about it as it doesn't look as if it was broken.

Any help appreciated.
Tony.

It's a sand cast militia light horse slouch hat badge.

Worn between 1900 and 1912. They were an Australian militia unit in Tasmania.

Usually should be a crisply stamped badge however I have seen other Tasmanian light horse badges pre WW1 that were sandcast so it may well be authentic.

Mick

Thanks Mick. It was bought in Port Elizabeth, South Africa in the mid to late 1940's by my brother. I'm not sure if fakes were as prolific around that time?
Tony

A strange place to find a badge like that but I think it probably is ok.

I believe that they may have had sand cast badges made up when official stocks ran dry.

Mick

hi all
just out of interest, who here beleives that badges from the 1900 and 1912 period were ever sand cast?
i have spoken to many collectors, dealers and authors and they have given their oppinions. just interested in others views here.
cheers
BC