Non-commissioned officers of a NSW Volunteer Rifle Regiment, between 1874-1880 / photographer unknown

SPG/121

fonds

between 1874-1880

Graphic Materials, Photographs

908788

38 photographic prints (1 fascicle) - albumen - 14 x 9.7 cm or smaller

1. Seven of the portraits are of men wearing the single chevron surmounted by crossed swords with crown and laurel wreath badge of a colour sergeant. This badge was adopted in April 1866 (see Sydney Mail 14/4/1866) and was replaced in about 1879 by a badge of three chevrons and a crown.
2. The buttons worn have the Volunteer Rifle bugle horn badge on them. With the 1879 reorganisation of the NSW Military Forces, all the Volunteer Rifle regiments were re-styled NSW Volunteer Infantry. At about this time the whole NSW Military Forces adopted a button with a representatiion of the badge of the colony on it, i.e. a St George cross with one lion and four stars.
3. In 1883, the NSW Military Forces adopted the 1882 pattern British Valise equipment with white pipe clay leather belts and straps. The men here all wear the brown leather belts worn prior to this time. Also prior to this time for a few years, the NSW Government had only issued the undress "Norfolk" jacket as an economy measure. In 1883 full dress jackets were again issued.
4. It was not until 1873 that the whole of the NSW Volunteer Rifles were issued with the scarlet tunic worn here, replacing the previous grey tunics, probably achieved during the 1874 issue of uniforms.
5. The ends of chevron groups are joined, a practice which ceased ca. 1885-1886. A tunic held by Victoria Barracks dated 1885 does not have joined chevrons.
6. The 1879 dress rules allowed silver lace on collars and cuffs of sergeants and above. Only the Sergeant Major (portrait Z) wears silver lace.
7. In the early 1880's, the rank of warrant officer with a badge of a crown on the lower arm was introduced for staff and regimental sergeants-major in both the British Army and NSW Military Forces.
8. Although the photographs could as early as 1869, they are most probably from the period 1874-1879. The facings are darker than the tunic so it is not possible to identify regiments. The 1st regiment had blue facings, the 2nd green and the third purple.

Reference:
Information supplied by W. J. Renfrew, no date

Out of copyright: Created before 1955

Transferred from SPG/Volunteers (BM), October 2010

"L.B. Dibbs suggested National Guard but their uniform seems to have had a breast pocket with button, see illustration of 1st parade in the Cuttings File under National Guard. The Brigadier of Victoria Barracks stated that from uniform it was a volunteer regiment, cf. uniform no.6 Co 1st Regiment (MPG First infantry), ca. 1880-4. Some of the men appear to be the same but one appears older here. cf also V*/Army/Non-commissioned officers of no.5 Battery, Volunteer Artillery" -- in pencil on the reverse of portrait A