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Interested members
Rather more importantly than the uniforms - from my point of view - are the rifle sling attachments. Having actually seen and handled many MLE rifles of Boer War vintage, I have never noted such a sling arrangement. In any case, from a firer's aspect, the placement of the sling swivel on the side of the butts is highly inconvenient, uncomfortable and near to the firer's right cheek. No thanks. The attachments are obviously non standard.
Looking closely at the rather portly, clasp-less QSA wearing Sergeant on the RHS of the group, the butt of his rifle has had some alteration made at the point where its lower sling swivel is found. Looks like a slot has been made or a marking applied. Difficult to see but there it is.
I tossed the question about the highly unusual rifle slings attachments to a very knowledgeable collector of British military long arms for comment. I will quote directly from Simon's reply:
"I would say it was done for show. These bloody mounted Colonials had (expletive deleted) rifles and not the regular cav. carbine and the rifles would need to be carried slung and not in buckets. The sling swivels would have allowed the rifle to be tightly slung, so there would be no bouncing around when at the trot. If they had used the normal front swivel, with a tight sling it would have pulled the rifle around, so it had to be mounted to the side as well. A lot of work to do - but it was the Coronation.
Note the sling had a buckle. Not common on slings of the time, because infantry weren't bouncing about on a horse. Also note that it looks like both ends of the slings are not tied with a leather thong, but have metal studs. Definitely will not come off at the trot."
Well, that is Simon's opinion. It would be interesting to see if any photographs exist of Colonial/Commonwealth Horse mounted contingents riding in a Coronation parade. More interested in efficiency than parade ground gloss, IL would have opted for the mounted Colonials to have paraded with rifles held as in the painting of E Sqn., Rhodesia Regt. leaving Mafeking after the relief. See the post re Lt/Capt. A.J. Forbes wounded on the day before Mafeking's relief.
Regards to all
IL.

Hi Dave,
I was able to find some more information with regards to the manufacture of the Coronation Uniforms for the Australian Contingent as per the article below which describes the same design for all the attending States -




Other information that was able to be sourced from the Australian War Memorial (AWM) indicates that when the Australian Coronation Contingent arrived in England they were issued with a new uniform which was made by the firm, Hobson & Sons of London. Information from the above article indicates that this might not be the case.


A digitalised coloured portrait of Sergeant Philip Selwyn Allen wearing his dress uniform, as a member of the Australian Coronation Contingent representing the State of Western Australia. Sergeant Allen initially served as 38 Private Allen with the 1st West Australia Mounted Infantry before re-enlisting once again with a rank of (49) Corporal serving with the 5th West Australia Mounted Infantry. I hope that the coloured image is as close to the original colour of the issued uniform, but it is hard to say when you look at the colouring of the medal ribbons. I believe that the artist may have used the next portrait from the AWM as a template.



Description from AWM.
Studio portrait of Corporal (Cpl) Thomas Lackey Cunningham Shields, Australian Commonweath Horse. Cpl Shields is wearing full dress uniform, as a member of the Australian Coronation Contingent sent to London for the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902. He is wearing the Coronation Medal and the Queen's South Africa Medal with three clasps. His hat displays the white metal second pattern Rising Sun badge, fixed to a green cloth backing. Formerly a farmer from Warrnambool, Victoria, Cpl Shields had served during the Boer War as 1132 Private Shields, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles.



Description from AWM.
Australian Commonwealth Horse (2nd pattern) oxidised brass hat badge with Rising Sun pattern rays, curved 'AUSTRALIA' over a tudor crown, and underneath a scroll with 'COMMONWEALTH HORSE'. The words on the badge have been highlighted by rubbing back the oxidisation to show the brighter brass. Badge is mounted on dark green cloth, edged with white stem stitch embroidery, cut in the pattern of a five petalled tudor rose. Badges with this cloth backing were worn by members of the Australian Commonwealth Horse selected to attend the coronation of Edward VII in London in 1902.

Trev

Excellent stuff, Trev. IL is spot-on when he says the sling arrangement is not practical for shooting the rifle. I wonder if it was done purely for a ceremonial ride-past?

Many thanks for the update and super photographs Trev, very much appreciated.
I believe Hobson and Sons are still in business.


Dave........