[Editor: This photo, of an Australian Light Horseman, is from the era of the Second World War (1939-1945). The photo is undated.]
Light Horseman
[Portrait photo of an Australian Light Horseman.]
[The manufacturer’s details are written in the bottom right corner of the photo.]
Martin Lane
Source:
Original document
Editor’s notes:
Dimensions (approximate): 111 mm. (width), 159 mm. (height).
The likely origin of this photograph would be the era of the Second World War (including some years before the war itself). There are two clues to the dating of this photo. 1) The relevant photographic studio (Martin Lane) operated during the Second World War. 2) The presence of the 17th Light Horse Regiment badge indicates a date prior to 13 February 1943 (when that unit was disbanded).
The manufacturer’s name (Martin Lane) appears in the bottom right corner of the photo. Martin Lane Studios operated from the Victoria Arcade, Castleagh Street, Sydney, as well as having a presence in Bendigo. A search of historical newspapers shows that Martin Lane Studios operated during the Second World War (1939-1945), but not during the First World War (1914-1918).
See (for example): 1) “Local & general news: Martin Lane photographers”, The Cobram Courier (Cobram, Vic.), 16 August 1939, p. 2
2) “Local & general news” (see section “Perfection in portraiture”), Camperdown Chronicle (Camperdown, Vic.), 14 May 1940, p. 2
The Light Horseman in the photo is wearing the badge of the 17th Light Horse Regiment, which was formed in 1911, and disbanded on 13 February 1943.
See: 1) “17th Light Horse Regiment”, Wikipedia
2) “File:17 LH (PWLH).png”, Wikipedia (photo of a military badge, described on the relevant Wikipedia page as “17th (Prince of Wales’s) Light Horse cap badge”)
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The reverse of the photo is blank (aside from some seller’s notations).
Light Horsemen = (in the context of the 20th Century) mounted infantry (e.g. the Australian Light Horse, which usually operated as mounted infantry, but was also used in cavalry roles); can also refer to the personnel of some armoured vehicle units (e.g. the Australian 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment)
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