~ British Victorian 12th Royal Lancers Prince Of Wales Senior NCO’s Chapka Helmet ~
The helmet has its gilt plate bearing the regiments battle honours over its leather skull. The button on the pom-pom bears the 12th regimental button under a red horse hair plume. The gilt chin scales are backed by leather and black velvet. The liner is of black oilskin. The gold braid around the skull has a blue band indicating non-commissioned officer status. NCO’s helmets are probably the rarest of them all.
~ 12th Royal Lancers ~
The 12th (Prince of Wales’s) Royal Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army first formed in 1715. It saw service for three centuries, including the First World War and the Second World War. The regiment survived the immediate post-war reduction in forces, but was slated for reduction in the 1957 Defence White Paper, and was amalgamated with the 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers to form the 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales’s) in 1960.
~ Condition ~
The helmet is in excellent overall condition for its age, the colours remain bright. The skull has a period patched repair to the leather. There is a size 6 label under the peak.
~ Dimensions ~
The helmet flat top is 18 cm (7 inches) square and the helmet is 22 cm (8.5 inches) tall without the plume. The plume itself is 35 cm (14 inches) in length.
#10149