The subject leather leggings are associated with mounted troops known as the Australian Light Horse that served in the South African War from 1899 to 1902. After the war, Britain wanted to use fewer mounted troops and restructured its force around a style of combat that needed more infantry. But the defence of Australia still relied upon mounted military units as these were more mobile than infantry and could travel faster over long distances. Light Horse brigades in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) mostly contained recruits who served in the Light Horse regiments of the Citizen Forces. Many young men from rural areas of Australia volunteered for the Light Horse regiments. They had to pass a riding test to join, this test was easier for men from the bush because horses were still the main method of transport on farms and in country towns. The army did not officially accept First Australians into the AIF until May 1917 when enlistment standards were relaxed to include 'half-castes' with a parent of European origin. Indigenous soldiers served as valuable members of the Light Horse and many possessed excellent horse handling skills and specialist tracking knowledge.The subject items are part of the uniform for the Light Horse Units that served in the Australian army from 1899 until 1918. These leggings were worn by soldiers on horseback and are significant as they represent a noteworthy time in Australia's early military history. It was a time when many young men gave their lives during the South African and First World Wars in the defence of the then British Empire as part of the Imperial Forces that were gathered from many British-controlled Colonial countries.A pair of two Leather Leggings used by Mounted Australian soldiers during the first world war. The leggings are dark tan in colour with stitching to attach buckles and fastener straps. The strap buckles are made of brass and the leather legging straps are of same leather as leggings. Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, leggings, leather leggings, protective leggings, protective clothing, australian mounted light horse units, military equipment

The subject leather leggings are associated with mounted troops known as the Australian Light Horse that served in the South African War from 1899 to 1902. After the war, Britain wanted to use fewer mounted troops and restructured its force around a style of combat that needed more infantry. But the defence of Australia still relied upon mounted military units as these were more mobile than infantry and could travel faster over long distances. Light Horse brigades in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) mostly contained recruits who served in the Light Horse regiments of the Citizen Forces. Many young men from rural areas of Australia volunteered for the Light Horse regiments. They had to pass a riding test to join, this test was easier for men from the bush because horses were still the main method of transport on farms and in country towns. The army did not officially accept First Australians into the AIF until May 1917 when enlistment standards were relaxed to include 'half-castes' with a parent of European origin. Indigenous soldiers served as valuable members of the Light Horse and many possessed excellent horse handling skills and specialist tracking knowledge.The subject items are part of the uniform for the Light Horse Units that served in the Australian army from 1899 until 1918. These leggings were worn by soldiers on horseback and are significant as they represent a noteworthy time in Australia's early military history. It was a time when many young men gave their lives during the South African and First World Wars in the defence of the then British Empire as part of the Imperial Forces that were gathered from many British-controlled Colonial countries.A pair of two Leather Leggings used by Mounted Australian soldiers during the first world war. The leggings are dark tan in colour with stitching to attach buckles and fastener straps. The strap buckles are made of brass and the leather legging straps are of same leather as leggings. Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, leggings, leather leggings, protective leggings, protective clothing, australian mounted light horse units, military equipment

A pair of United States Army drab canvas gaiters, worn with shoes or boots by US servicemen. The gaiters are laced with nine hooks and ten eyelets on the outer side of each, and fastened to the shoe by a webbing strap and metal buckle. History / Summary US Army drab gaiters of type M-1938, Dismounted, Protective, Stock No. 72-L-62027 – 72-L-62048, were issued in four sizes from R1 –R4, and worn extensively during the Second World War. Also identified as leggings.

This legging is part of a pair of leggings which presumably would have been worn by a cavalry soldier in the Royal Australian Army to protect the lower legs when riding in armed conflict. This item most likely dates to the World War One era.As an article of WWI protective clothing for use in armed conflict by a cavalry soldier, this item is of historic value. Brown leather cylindrical shaped legging with two leather straps for fastening. One strap is attached to the lower edge of the interior. This crosses over the lower exterior and passes through a leather loop at the front, which is attached by four metallic nails. The strap then wraps around the gaiter and passes through a second leather loop at the front, which is also attached by four corroded metallic nails. This strap (along with a shorter strap that is sewn and nailed into the top of the legging) pass through two buckles. The upper buckle is made of brass and the lower is made of steel. The straps then tuck under three final leather loops, two of which are bolted to the legging with three corroded nails. There should be a third loop here that is missing. Top corner of legging also carries a small corroded metal hook, presumably to hold layers together firmly.legging, gaiter, first world war, world war one, world war 1, wwi, ww1, war, army, uniform, royal australian army, the great war

This legging is part of a pair of leggings which presumably would have been worn by a cavalry soldier in the Royal Australian Army to protect the lower legs when riding in armed conflict. This item most likely dates to the World War One era.As an article of WWI protective clothing for use in armed conflict by a cavalry soldier, this item is of historic value. Brown leather cylindrical shaped legging with two leather straps for fastening. One strap is attached to the lower edge of the interior. This crosses over the lower exterior and passes through a leather loop at the front, which is attached by four metallic nails. The strap then wraps around the gaiter and passes through a second leather loop at the front, which is also attached by four corroded metallic nails. This strap (along with a shorter strap that is sewn and nailed into the top of the legging) pass through two buckles at the top. Both buckles are made of brass. The straps then tuck under four final leather loops, two of which are bolted to the legging with three corroded nails. Top of legging also carries a small brass hook.legging, gaiter, first world war, world war one, world war 1, wwi, ww1, war, army, uniform, royal australian army, the great war