b'69MILITARY320A copper and brass powder flask, 19th century,21cm high$80120 321A powder flask, copper and brass, mid 19th century,20cm high$150250 322322 James Beaney was a surgeon at the THE PRINCE OF WALES VICTORIANMelbourne Hospital from 1860 to 1891. VOLUNTEER LIGHT HORSE REGIMENTKnown for his medical boldness and 1884 notorious for his self-promotion and Composite albumen paper photograph lavish lifestyle, his every step invited of 29 military portraits, inscribed andcontroversy and divided public opinion. dated in ink The conduct of a surgeon who drank and on backing below image, 37.5 x 29.1cm.served champagne to guests he invited laid down on original backing. to watch as he performed operations Inscription reads:with hands adorned with jewellery is Presented to Surgeon Beaneysomething that would be condemnedwith kind regards, Caleb Anderson. today as outrageous and unacceptable. Major Comdg Regt P. of W V.V.L.But from 1860 that was the common Melbourne 29th February 1884. practice of Melbourne surgeon James In 1862, the units of the MountedGeorge Beaneya practice that was Volunteer Corps in Victoria were formedto earn him the dubious nickname into a single regiment known as theof Diamond Jim and guarantee him Victorian Volunteer Light Horse. This titlea place in the citys history as one of changed in 1863, to the Prince of Walesits more controversial and colourful Victorian Volunteer Light Horse (Hussars).celebrities, loved and despised in almost Troops were based at various times atequal measure.Geelong, Ballarat, Kyneton, Bendigo,$2,5003,000Castlemaine and Dandenong, as well as metropolitan Melbourne. 323The Victorian Volunteer Light HorseA cavalry sword in leather scabbard, Regiment was disbanded in 1884 andearly 20th century,in 1885, most of the Cavalry were81cm longincorporated into a newly formed$300500323 Victorian Mounted Rifles.'