Trooper's full dress tunic - Melbourne Cavalry Corps - circa 1901

[slick_mick]

Trooper's full dress tunic - Melbourne Cavalry Corps - circa 1901.



The Melbourne Cavalry Corps was raised in 1901. As a volunteer corps, members provided their own uniforms, saddles and horses. Although also part of the Light Horse, when dressed in this uniform they took on ceremonial roles such as the Guard at the opening of Federal Parliament in Melbourne in 1901. Recruitment for this unit, particularly for officers was apparently slow. In 1901 Lieutenant A Rushall was the only appointed officer. The corps numbered only twenty until a fixed establishment of fifty was alloted in 1903. In 1903 the corps became part of No 6 Squadron 10th Light Horse Regiment. In 1912, all six squadrons of the 10th were united to become the 13th Light Horse, Victorian Mounted Rifles.