The lance cap or czapka worn by the 9th Lancers retained its distinctive pattern which originated in 1830 but reached its final shape in 1857. Whereas the other lancer regiments, the 5th, 12th, 16th, 17th and 21st all had similar patterns to each other, the 9th had a plain gilt edge to the peak, the gilt band around the waist of the cap, and the lack of gold cord that followed the four corners and crossed over the top. In the case of the latter, the 9th had a flat black leather top with gilt ornaments at the corners. The upper part of the cap was, however, ribbed dark blue cloth, the angles marked with plain gilt strips. The other lancer regiments also had coiled gold cord bosses with embroidered centres, but the 9th had a gilt metal boss with a regimental button.
The front view is without the plume, but the photo of the back of the cap shows the feather plume attached and a view of the ornate gilt plume holder which slotted into the boss. The chin-chain is fixed to the lion’s head on the left side and is usually hooked onto the corresponding lion’s head the other side, but is here taken across the peak, around the back and attached to a small hook just below the ring where the cap-lines are attached.
The very ornate gilt plate on the front carries all the battle honours awarded to the 9th Lancers up to 1902. This plate had to be altered 8 times after 1844 when PUNNIAR was granted. The cap shown here is the final dress cap with the four honours for the South African war. MODDER RIVER and PAARDEBERG are placed in the middle, above the ROYAL LANCERS scroll so that Queen Adelaide’s silver monogram is squeezed into a smaller space.
