The 9th Lancers returned from India in November 1885 and were stationed at Shorncliffe. Reginald Wymer painted men of the regiment in various orders of dress in that year. In marching order the lapel of the tunic was buttoned over to hide the scarlet plastron but leaving a red edge all the way down and around the hem of the tunic. In this case the lapel has been buttoned over to the left. This private wears a white pouch-belt from the left shoulder and a white strap from the left shoulder for the canvas haversack.
His lance cap is protected with a black waterproof cover and the cap-lines are wound around the waist of the cap. He has a carbine in a leather holster attached to the saddle behind his right leg. The lancers were issued with the Martini-Henry carbine in 1878 for active service in Afghanistan. Behind that is a water-bottle. The valise behind his saddle is covered by the black sheepskin and he has a mess-tin strapped on top of that.
