Cap Badge - [Akubra] Queensland Mounted Infantry mislabelled the Queensland Regiment, Australia. This version is a Queen Victoria's Crown from before the Boer War This badge was sold by Jim Purdy for $110.00 on e-Bay in the Spring/Summer of 2017. This badge was deemed irrelevant to the museum. The money was used to purchase relevant badges for the collection. The Regiment was formed on the 27th of February 1860 when the first Governor of Queensland, Sir George Ferguson Bowen proclaimed and approved the Rules and Regulations of the Brisbane Mounted Rifles. In 1864 the unit was renamed the Queensland Light Horse. Under the 'Defence Act of 1884' there was a reorganisation and the unit name changed in 1885 to Moreton Mounted Infantry. In 1897 the Mounted Infantry were reorganised as the Queensland Mounted Infantry consisting of 11 companies. By 1901 the Queensland Mounted Infantry had been organised as a Brigade of four Battalions of some 20 companies with a strength of 1200 officers and men. On the 10th July 1899 the Premier of Queensland, the Honourable J.R. Dickson, offered troops to help Great Britain against the Boers in South Africa. This was the first offer of assistance made by any of the Australian Colonies. It was accepted and one company of Mounted Infantry was detailed for duty. In October 1899, the 1st Contingent of the Queensland Mounted Infantry (QMI) enlisted, outfitted and trained for service in the Boer War in South Africa. In the period following the Boer War the State forces were amalgamated to form the Commonwealth Military Forces. In the changes the four battalions of the QMI were reformed as the 13th, 14th and 15th Australian Light Horse Regiments (Queensland Mounted Infantry). King Edward VII awarded a King's Banner to each unit that served in the South African War and in 1904 each of the three Regiments of the QMI was represented in Melbourne where the Governor-General presented the banners. In 1908 each regiment was further awarded the Battle Honour - South Africa 1899-1900-1-2. With the introduction of compulsory military service the army was expanded and in 1912 the designation of the units of the QMI were again changed to 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 27th Light Horse Regiments (QMI). During World War 1 these units continued to serve at home and in 1914 a volunteer expeditionary force, the Australian Imperial Force, was formed. The 2nd ALH served at Anzac on the Gallipoli Peninsula where it distinguished itself at Quinn's Post, Sari Bair and Suvla and later served in Egypt, Palestine and Syria. Some of the actions in which the Regiment took part included Romani, Charge of Magdhaba, Rafa, Gaza, Beersheba, Jerusalem, Megiddo and Jordan. A significant event in the unit’s history is the battle of Beersheba. This battle is well known due to the movie known as "The Lighthorsemen". On the 31st of October 1917, the unit played an important role in what has been commonly referred to "as the last great cavalry charge in history". Turkish forces were defending the town of Beersheba with heavy fortifications and prepared positions. The town itself contained water wells that were crucial for the continuation of the operation. Indeed, many of the horses had not been watered for twenty-four to forty-eight hours before the attack. If the town was not captured before sunset the Light Horse would have to turn back and seek water elsewhere. Having determined that the south western approach to Beersheba had the least opposition, General Harry Chauvel decided that he could not employ the normal Light Horse tactic of deploying on horseback, dismounting and attacking on foot. Chauvel decided the only path to success was with a full-blooded mounted charge. Amazingly, the Light Horse managed to overwhelm the Turkish defences resulting in the capture of the town. In July 1918 the 1st ANZAC Battalion of the Imperial Camel Corps, which had fought with the Desert Mounted Corps, became the 14th Australian Light Horse Regiment. They took part in the final offensive which overthrew the Turkish right flank in Palestine. On the 17th of August 1918 the units of the QMI underwent another change. The 1st, 3rd and 27th Light Horse Regiments became the 5th, 11th and 14th Light Horse Regiments (QMI). In 1930 as an economy measure, compulsory military service was abolished and the CMF reverted to voluntary service. As a result, 2nd Moreton Light Horse (QMI) and the 14th West Moreton Light Horse (QMI) were linked to form 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (QMI).