Cavalry pattern ammunition pouch : Sergeant J Williams, 5 Australian Commonwealth Horse

Black leather ammunition pouch of stitched construction featuring a long external flap mounting a brass badge of 1 Australian Horse. This flap opens to reveal an internal pouch, fitted with eight external cartridge loops. There is an second closing flap protecting the pouch; a pair of single cartridge loops is sewn to the upper inner flap. A pair of large brass equipment rings are sewn to each side of the pouch; and a horizontal belt loop sewn to the lower edge of the rear of the pouch. The outer flap should secure via a leather tongue and brass post - the leather tongue is missing. A name has been scratched into the inside of the outer flap but cannot be deciphered.

Cavalry pattern leather .303 carbine ammunition pouch relating to the service of 391 Sergeant Jonathan Williams, 5 Australian Commonwealth Horse (5ACH). Born Lake George, NSW in the late 1860s and a drover by occupation, Williams lived in Goulburn, NSW; his brother, Thomas, served in the Deniliquin Police. By his early 20s, Williams had developed a good reputation as a sportsman in the local area, both as a footballer and a boxer. Ransome Wyatt, in his 'History of Goulburn' states (p 458) 'among the late Jonathan Williams' outstanding sporting achievements was his showing in the Rugby Union match which Goulburn played against an English XV on the old showground. Goulburn was defeated by nine points to three and its try was secured by a player named Plimpton after good work by Williams.' He was also notable locally a winning the District Amateur Lightweight Boxing Championship, with additional experience in fights in Melbourne. Wyatt adds: 'at the close of the South African War he gained the light welterweight championship of the British Army, defeating Harry Cooper of the Dublin Fusiliers after 13 rounds'.

Williams had served in South Africa for 15 months as a Lance Corporal with NSW Imperial Bushmen (NSWIB). An unmarried resident of Grafton St, Goulburn, Williams was 31 years when he joined up for his second tour with 5ACH but the unit arrived in Durban, South Africa on 18 June 1902 just as the war ended 1902 and he and his unit returned aboard the 'Manchester Merchant' to Australia without seeing service. It is unclear why he was in possession of this pouch decorated with the badge of 1st Australian Horse, although members of this unit had served in South Africa and it was also militia unit raised in New south Wales in 1897.