The 9th Lancers retained their red jackets up to 1842. By General Order dated 14 March 1840 the clothing of the Light Cavalry was changed from red to blue, but a submission to the Sovereign obtained the Royal Authority on 17 June for the clothing of the 9th Lancers to continue to be red, as an exception to the order. However, the Colonel of the 16th Lancers, Sir John Vandeleur, then made a personal application for his regiment to be allowed to retain their scarlet uniform. Finally, on 2 March 1841, Queen Victoria decided that the 16th should continue wearing red, and the 9th should change to blue. Whether the change took place before they sailed to India in May 1842 is not clear.
This study of a mounted private of the 9th Lancers by J Loder was painted in Bath in 1841. The red jacket has a tall blue collar with two yellow lace loops on each side. His cap lines end in flounders and tassels hanging on his left shoulder; the line can just be seen coming from under his left arm. He has brass shoulder scales and a white leather pouch-belt attached to a black leather ammunition pouch for his pistol. The white leather waist-belt can be seen behind his elbow, supporting a light cavalry sword, but no sabretache, as this was abolished for privates of lancer regiments in 1833.
His black lance-cap has a black horse-hair plume, and the cap lines are attached to the right hand corner of the trencher top. His lance has a white strap that loops around his right arm, with the shaft resting in a small holster on his stirrup. The artist has taken great care to depict the embroidery on the rear part of the blue shabraque. The crown over Queen Adelaide’s cypher and a red scroll with PENINSULA inscribed. The number 9 is placed between crossed lances.
