This fine painting illuminates the contemporary photos of officers of the 18th Lancers. It is a portrait of Honorary Lieutenant Malik Umar Hayat Khan CIE, painted by A C Lovett and published in MacMunn’s Armies of India in 1911. This officer, unlike most Indians, was commissioned from the beginning of his service, so held a special position in the regiment. He wears the lancer-style waist girdle like the British officers, worn over his richly embroidered blue kummerband. His gold laced pouch-belt has the silver plumes badge of the Prince of Wales, conferred on the regiment in 1906. The collar of his scarlet kurta differs from that of the other officers in that the gold lace has a dark edge on either side. This can be seen more clearly in the photo portrait. The broad gold stripes on the right side of his lungi can be seen, and one end appears at the top next to the gold and red pointed kullah, while the other end hangs down his back.
