These two senior NCOs of the 9th Lancers wear dismounted stable dress. Their rank entitles them to have 1st Class Staff clothing which means that the scarlet collar and cuffs have gold lace added, in the style of officers. There are also gold twisted shoulder cords instead of plain yellow. The waist-length jacket is fastened with 16 brass buttons. It is worn with blue trousers that have a double yellow stripe down the side (yellow appears as black in photos of this vintage). The forage cap is blue with a gold lace cap-band and gold braid crossing over the top with a central gold purl netted button; the rank and file had blue caps with a red cap-band, braid and button.
The Paymaster Sergeant, on the left, indicates his rank with three gold chevrons and an embroidered crown above. He also has a skill-at-arms badge on his left sleeve to prove his proficiency with the lance. This NCO is 2nd Class Staff but is entitled to 1st Class Staff uniform.
On the right is the Quartermaster Sergeant who has 1st Class Staff status, having four inverted chevrons on his right forearm with an embroidered crown above. From 1850 to 1880 there were three 1st Class Staffers; the RSM, the QMS and the Farrier Major. After 1881 the QMS was called Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant (RQMS) and the Farrier Major was Farrier Quartermaster Sergeant (FQMS) still 1st Class Staff, whereas the RSM was, from that date, a Warrant Officer.
