Tasmanian Mounted Infantry - Boer War

[slick_mick]

Soldiers of the Tasmanian Mounted Infantry - Boer War.



Enjoy!

Mick

[coldstream]

Hello Mick,

Great image, thank you for posting.
The feather plumes on the slouches are superb, would these have been acquired in S.A.

Paul

[slick_mick]

Do you think they are ostrich plumes?

Mick

[Mike Jackson]

It is said that naive young ladies in Cairo were told by ALH Troopers that they were kangaroo feathers!

[slick_mick]

This is 15 odd years before that Mike! LOL

I think they are ostrich or maybe swan feathers.

Mick

[Mike Jackson]

I have an image taken from Navy and Army Illustrated 1895 showing NCOs of the NSW Regt of Lancer Volunteers. Members of this unit were stated as having been present in UK in 1893 for the opening of the Imperial Institute.
NSW Lancers.01.jpg

[slick_mick]

Nice picture!

Mick

[rhodesianmilitaria]

Emu plumes gentlemen.

History of the Diggers Slouch Hat and plumes.

http://www.5rar.asn.au/history/hat.htm

[slick_mick]

I have to disagree with you Peter. Emu plumes really started to only come in for Light Horse units during WW1 (except QMI who wore them earlier).

The article also state's this:

"The most striking addition by some units was the adornment of the hat with the plumes of various birds, including black cock, eagle, swan and ostrich. The best known of these, however, particularly after the exploits of the Light Horse in the desert campaigns of the First World War, was the emu feather. It is believed that this plumage was first adopted by the Queensland Mounted Infantry at the time of the shearers' strike in 1891."

As this was around 1900/1901 I think they are either the feathers of the black cock, eagle, swan or ostrich.

Mick

[rhodesianmilitaria]

You're not disagreeing with me Mick, I'm only repeating what the article says. The first photo's description is what I was repeating.

1st Boer War 16 December 1880 - 23 March 1881
2nd Boer War 9 October 1899 - 31 May 1902

I'm sure if someone wants to spend enough time on a search engine they'll come up with the answer.

[Mike Jackson]

Mick,
I thought I owed you this - from Punch magazine, London early 1916:
Kangaroo Feathers.jpg Mike

[slick_mick]

Thanks Mike!

Mick