New South Wales Lancers - Full Dress Tunic - circa 1890-1895

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New South Wales Lancers - Full Dress Tunic - circa 1890-1895.



This brownish red wool tunic with red plastron was introduced in late 1889 to replace a blue tunic with red facing of the same pattern as the 5th Royal Irish Lancers. Although Lord Carrington gave approval for the use of the Elephant's head badge to be used as the regimental badge, from 1890, it was possibly not used as a collar badge until 1895. The Lancers were first raised in New South Wales as a new force of cavalry in 1885 and troops were raised in Sydney and country districts. In 1894 the New South Wales Lancer Regiment was formed which encompassed seven squadrons of Lancers. A detachment of Lancers was sent to England in 1897 to celebrate the Queen's diamond jubilee and later, squadrons served at the Boer War. After Federation they were re-designated 1st Australian Light Horse (New South Wales Lancers) and 4th Light Horse. The full dress uniform of this pattern was retaimned for some years.