J. K. Cossum, in his book “Buttons of the Defence Forces in Australia” shares images of some very rare buttons.
Prince of Wales Victorian Volunteer Light Horse
In 1862-3 there was a re-organisation of the Victorian Defence Forces. All the various mounted troops were merged into one of 6 troops of the regiment of the ‘Victorian Volunteer Light Horse’ in 1862, renamed the ‘Prince of Wales Victorian Volunteer Light Horse (Hussars)’ the following year’. They were disbanded in 1884.
Australian War Memorial: Prince of Wales Light Horse Officer’s Garibaldi jacket c1863-73.
Fur busby.
Officer’s full dress tunic.
The Bulletin, 16th November 1982 page 41.
The Age (Melbourne) 8th August 1863 page 5.
On Cossum page 10 are two buttons with the Prince of Wales plumes*, one Sanders type by ‘Stokes Marker, Melbourne’ bearing the monogram type letters ‘PWV’, and a ball button. As previously mentioned, the ‘Stokes, Maker’ backmark indicates pre-1867. Cossum suggests the ball button as possibly Victorian, c.1880. as it came from a period costume.
*The Prince of Wales plumes are three white ostrich feathers, first used by Edward, the Black Prince, during the 14th century.
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