Canada, Commonwealth. A Rare Queen’s Own Rifles Green Dress Tunic, C. 1870

An early QOR tunic and possibly a unique remaining example, completely hand stitched in rifle green cloth with a black silk interior, likely worn over the shoulder as an official dress accessory.

The collar is covered in black lambskin, the front 1.5 inches of each side presents a rifle green block edged in green square cord. There are two lacquered wooden buttons on each side of the collar presenting a crowned bugle with central 2, surrounded by the inscription QUEEN’S OWN RIFLES OF CANADA. The shoulder boards are black chain gimp, measuring 150mm in length. The front of the tunic presents a square cord design totalling six horizontal lines on each side of the chest, connected by three eye loops between two cord lines. The tunic closes with six netted olivets aligned with six cord loops on the right side, and one netted olivet just below the edge of the collar. A locking mechanism consisting of a length of round cord with three knots and two netted olivets between, which loop over the olivets attached to the tunic. This cord measures 400mm from the attachment near collar to the end. The bottom of the tunic is partially surrounded by 55mm of black lambskin. The sleeves present an Austrian knot with three eyes on each side and a singular strand of square cord below, with black lambskin surrounding the cuff coming to a point under the Austrian knot and cord on the front of the sleeve, approximately 170mm at the highest point to the edge. The back of the tunic features ornate designs of an Austrian knot on each side near the waist, bordered by a simple Russian braid. Each side curves up the mid back and ends in three loops near the shoulder with the Russian braid border presenting seven simple loops around the eyes. There is a trapezoidal flap from the base of edged in braided cord with a small Russian braid presenting three eye loops in the center.

The interior is in silk, with a quilted pattern under the arms. Slight rips along the seams and fraying along the collar seam, a white cloth patch is stitched to the left side at ribs. The interior of the sleeves have a small section of the rifle green cloth, the rest of the arms present a silk lining.

The tunic measurements are as follows: 480mm from shoulder to shoulder, across the back of the collar. 400mm from the top of the collar down the front of the tunic to the base. 600mm from the edge of the shoulder to the edge of the cuff. 540mm from the top of the collar down the back to the edge of the ornamental flap.

The buttons are worn, two being heavily cracked, one of which is chipped. The olivets are slightly loose at the original attachment points, a natural occurrence after use. The square cord is worn, discoloured on right sleeve, and shows general wear consistent with age. A unique piece of Canadian heritage, in overall extremely fine condition.

Footnote: The Queen’s Own Rifles was established on April 26, 1860 and is Canada’s longest serving regiment. The QOR has taken part in every Canadian military campaign. As the first to be equipped with a ‘rifled’ weapon, the Queen’s Own Rifles were known for moving at a doubling pace, and their dress was more focused on camouflage instead of ostentatious colours. The QOR was active during both the First and Second War and remains active today.