The ornate lance cap plate had to be changed several times to accommodate the latest battle honours. PUNNIAR was awarded on 22 June 1844 to add to their one other honour PENINSULA. The Sikh Wars brought SOBRAON (awarded 8 Jun 1847) PUNJAUB, CHILLIANWALLAH and GOOJERAT all awarded on 14 Dec 1852. The Indian Mutiny brought DELHI and LUCKNOW, awarded on 3 Sep 1863. The lance cap shown here has the battle honours for the 2nd Afghan War, CHARASIAH, KABUL, KANDAHAR and AFGHANISTAN 1878-80. However, the date ‘1878-80’ is not added on this plate. These last four honours were awarded in 1881. In 1901 the design and battle honours remained the same apart from the change from a Victorian to a King’s crown, then of course, four more battle honours were awarded after the South African War of 1899-1902 (see Officer's Lance Cap 1905)
The silver monogram of a reversed AR is placed in the centre, just below the two shields, the Royal arms of Hanoverian Great Britain and the multi-quartered arms of Mecklenberg Strelitz (or Saxe-Meiningen?). The gilt coiled boss at top right supported the black and white cock feathers plume. A regimental gilt button can be seen in the centre of the coil. This officer’s cap plate is gilt and silver; other ranks had a similar design but all brass.
This photo is from Head Dress of the British Lancers 1816 to the Present by David J J Rowe and William Y Carman (Schiffer 2002). The credits acknowledge Meng-Chi Tsen. Photo R Biondi.
