The uniform of the 9th Lancers is well shown here. The crimson trousers indicate that this officer is in full dress which agrees in most respects with the 1817 painting of 9th Lancer officers by Denis Dighton. The main difference is the collar which previously was open at the front and had two gold embroidered loops on each side. The collar on this officer is closed and has four rows of gold embroidery. The aiguillettes are draped across the chest to hang on the left side, but the tassels are the ends of the cap lines. The method of attaching these lines to the body is as confusing as all the other paintings and prints. They come from the right side of the lance cap and loop up to the right shoulder. They wind around the body from the right shoulder, four lines being visible, and reappear on the left shoulder in a series of formalised links before ending as flounders and tassels.
This officer does not wear a pouch-belt which should be part of full dress, being gold laced with a central crimson silk stripe and silver chains and pickers. The sitter perhaps considered that the belt would conceal his Waterloo medal which is proudly displayed on the left side of his chest. The regiment did not fight at Waterloo, but this officer is Major Thomas Wildman who was a captain in the 7th Hussars in 1815, acting as ADC to the Earl of Uxbridge. He joined the 9th Lancers on 31 Oct 1816 as a major and left the regiment at the end of 1819 with the rank of lieutenant-colonel.
