The second pattern lance cap was announced in 1828 but not produced until 1830. The 1831 Dress Regulations described the pattern but did not mention the special pattern for the 9th Lancers. Whereas the other regiments were to have caps of blue cloth, the 9th had a black leather cap. Later caps of the 9th had a black leather lower part but a blue cloth top. The special pattern is described in a belated order of 24 Feb 1832:
‘..black patent leather throughout, the trencher top nine and three quarter inches square with plain strips of metal up the angles, gilt metal waistband 2 inches wide formed of semi-circular rope, each two of which sections are bound together by a double rope in the centre. Gilt metal plate bearing regimental devices, gilt metal mount or boss (below the plume stem) two and three quarter inches in diameter, made of a rope coiled round a button five times. Gilt chinstrap and lion’s head fastenings. Black leather peak permanently turned up at the back. Front plate, crown over two oval shields, Royal Arms and Queen Adelaide. Lion and Unicorn, two lances behind. Below A R reversed cypher and title “Royal Lancers”.’
The permanently turned up back peak was discontinued after 1855. At this stage there was no gilt edge to the front peak. The old photos are taken from the notebooks of P W Reynolds who wrote that they are photos of a specimen in the Dublin Museum. The plume, which looks like white and crimson cock feathers, is probably incorrect as this pattern of cap was worn with a black plume, although the order quoted above does not mention the plume. The chin-chain replaced the chin-scales on the first pattern cap.
The right-hand photo formed the basis of a Player’s cigarette card, shown on the right, which was part of a set produced in 1931. The coloured illustration on the card shows the upper sides as being shiny leather and the plume as black feathers.
