The young 20 year-old poses in his full uniform including lance-cap and gauntlets, probably before joining the regiment which was stationed at Cahir in Ireland in May 1867. The rank of cornet was shown as an embroidered silver star on his collar. In 1871 the title was changed from Cornet to Sub Lieutenant, and in 1878 changed again to Second Lieutenant.
The cap-lines are worn incorrectly; the olivet ends should be turned in to form a circular loop, and the lines around his chest should be underneath the pouch-belt. Photos of officers in this period rarely show them wearing the lance-cap, which here does not have the chin-chain worn on the chin. The tunic is indistinct in this reproduction but the scarlet ‘butterfly’ plastron was the style at this stage. He wears baggy dress trousers for dismounted duty. When mounted, officers wore similar gold laced trousers but with leathered ankles. No sabretache was worn by officers until after 1871.
The officer is Cornet James Alexander Francis Humberston Stewart Mackenzie who rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, commanding the 9th Lancers from December 1890 to December 1895.
