1912 Universal Pattern saddle : Australian Light Horse and Field Artillery

1912 Universal Pattern steel arch brown leather saddle complete with beech wood side bars, numnah panels and original 'V' attachment and sweat flap with a single two buckle, split leather girth. Attached to the saddle are a pair of stirrup leathers each with their stirrup iron attached. The leather seat covers the frame of the saddle between the front and rear arches and is connected to them by linen webbing slings and rawhide lacing. The saddle leather is marked '93 / FA / A6' and 'CGHF (broad arrow)'. The girth is marked '20 / FA / D / 1' and the wood of the saddle is marked 'ROBINSON BROS / 1914 / (broad arrow) F 4 2'.

Standard issue saddle used by British and Australian mounted, artillery and transport units from 1912 until 1941. This saddle was issued to the Australian War Memorial by the Commonwealth Government Harness Factory in the late 1930s for display on the mounted hide of an Australian bred British army remount, which had been prepared in London for display in the Memorial, then being constructed in Canberra. The building and exhibition areas were opened on 11 November 1941.

Universal Pattern saddles were designed to have interchangeable parts, making them easy to repair. Although the wooden tree for this saddle was made in 1914, most of the leather parts were added to it later 1920s or early 1930s.

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• Pair of saddle wallets
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