Historical information

The practice of wearing emu plumes in hats began with the Queensland Mounted Infantry. It is thought to have begun when the unit was engaged in suppression of the Shearers’ Strike of 1891. It remained a Queensland tradition till 1915 when other AIF units of the Light Horse began to do the same. After some dispute and discussion, the practice was approved provided the soldiers paid for their own plumes. Some regiments did not take up plumes: 6th and 7th LH continued to wear wallaby fur puggarees; 4th LH refused plumes because of the association with anti-unionism.
The post-war militia adopted plumes and today all Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC) regiments wear emu plumes in slouch hats. In the 1950s 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles and some other RAAC regiments wore an emu plume tuft behind the regimental badge on black berets.

Physical description

Framed Emu feathers with the use of, with news item on history of the Light Horse

Inscriptions & markings

Kangaroo feathers