Victorian Permanent Artillery helmet - circa 1890s

[slick_mick]

Victorian Permanent Artillery helmet - circa 1890s



When the uniform was used, the Victorian Permanent Artillery boasted 16 officers and 252 other ranks. After Federation it was amalgamagted with the artilleries of the other states to form the Royal Australian Artillery Regiment.

The Victorian Permanent Artillery was part of the Victorian volunteer forces, local regiments who undertook the naval and military defence of the colony of Victoria. Melburnians lived with the fear of invasion by a foreign navy sailing into Port Phillip Bay. Of particular concern were the colonial ambitions of France, Germany and Russia in the Pacific. Local citizens established volunteer army corps in the 1850s. In 1856, Victoria became the first Australian colony to establish its own navy, with the acquisition of the war sloop Victoria. When the British army left Victoria in 1870, the volunteer corps and Victorian Navy shared responsibility for defence. Fortifications and gun batteries were erected at St Kilda, Brighton, Williamstown and the heads of Port Phillip Bay to confront enemy ships. But fears still simmered. When the telegraph line to Europe was accidentally severed in 1888, many took it as a sign that a Russian invasion had begun.

A permanent Victorian artillery force was established in 1870, but was disbanded in 1880. It was re-formed in 1882, and two years later three groups of field artillery were amalgamated to form the Metropolitan Brigade of Field Artillery. By 1890 it boasted 16 officers and 252 other ranks. In 1899 the permanent artilleries of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland were amalgamated as a precursor to Federation. The Victorian artillery became known as the Victorian Regiment of Royal Australian Artillery. After Federation, the Royal Australian Artillery and the permanent artilleries of the other states were combined to form the Royal Australian Artillery Regiment, consisting of two batteries: A from Sydney and B from Melbourne and Brisbane.

The structure of the forces reflected the social hierarchies of the time. Wealthy and influential citizens provided land and resources, and held higher ranks in the forces.

[kingsley]

My first impression on looking at this helmet is that it looks more like a NSW pattern than a Victorian, but of course may have been worn in both. The large grenade with the pointed flames was definitely worn in NSW (my local one from my grandfather's estate dates from the 1890s when he was in the NSW army). Unlike NSW, the Victorian army had its own distinctive Royal Arty plate with lion and unicorn which is what I would expect to find on a Vic helmet. The NSW Artillery probably also wore the universal HP with the cross, lion and stars.
Years ago someone showed me a Vic Artillery helmet which had a small plain brass "Royal Marine Artillery" pattern grenade badge. I thought it looked strange to have such a small badge in a helmet but was assured that it was original. Helmets are not my thing, maybe someone with more expert knowledge might help.

[Lancer 17]

Hi Mick

Thats a great helmet and also a great series of posts in the last few days.

Im not sure that the helmet is Vic. The Vic Artillery wore a navy blue uniform with a navy home pattern helmet with a large white metal helmet plate.

I have a series of old B & W photos of Vic Artillery, I will email you a few and see what you think.

Regards

Phil.

[slick_mick]

Not sure mate.

The helmet is in the Museum of Victoria. Someone else may know as I am not an expert on this period.

Mick