The uniform consists of the chapska helmet, tunic & trousers.
~ Chapska ~
The chapska helmet’s skull is made of a ribbed black wool upper, gilt brass fittings and black leather. The front badge is made of gilt brass has a lower banner reading “Royal Lancers”, numerous battle honours and the Kings crown atop. It comes with its black & white horse tail plume with removable gilt brass support. Below this is a large gilt brass roundel with the regimental button. The corners of the wool area are brass reinforced with a gilt brass band below. The four corners of the flat top have gilt brass oak leaf pieces. The chin scale bosses are shaped as lion heads, the scales themselves are backed with tan leather.
The interior hat band is of black leather with a black silk lining. A manufacturers label is on the front head band, quite faded but we can make out ‘P…. & Davis. The underside of the crown has a 1910 War Department & broad arrow stamp.
~ Tunic ~
The dark blue tunic has red cuffs with two Firmin regimental buttons on each and red piping on the sides of the arms.
The collar and front are also red.
The shoulders are fitted with yellow cord ‘epaulettes’ and regimental buttons.
The chest has a further fourteen regiment buttons and a further two blank ones underneath.
The tail has red piping and four regimental buttons to each side.
~ Trousers ~
The dark blue trousers have two yellow stripes down each leg with blackened steel buttons. They have khaki upper liners which have the War Department stamp with the broad arrow and ’11’ for ‘1911’ along with a penned surname of ‘Murray’. Both elasticated boot straps are present.
~ 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers (1715-1960) ~
The 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers, or the Delhi Spearmen, were a cavalry regiment of the British Army. They are best known for their roles in the Indian mutiny of 1857, numerous Boer War battles and for their part in the North African campaign of World War II including the retreat to and the battle of El Alamein in 1942.
~ Dimensions ~
The helmet has a height of 9 inches (22.8 cm) without its plume. The plume height itself is 22 inches (55.8 cm). The square sides of the shako top have a length of 7 inches (17.8 cm) and its inner diameter is 6 inches (15.2 cm).
The overall length of the tunic is 26 inches (66 cm) – from the collar to the bottom line of the jacket. The tunic, from armpit to armpit, measures 17 inches (43.1 cm). The outside sleeve length is 23 inches (58.4 cm). The collar diameter is 4.5 inches (11.4 cm).
The trousers have a waist measuring 16 inches (40.7 cm) across with the legs measuring 44 inches (111.8 cm) long on the outside. The inside leg is 32 inches (81.3 cm).
The set weighs 3.133 kg: The chapska helmet weighs 830 g, the tunic weighs 1.31 kg, the trousers weigh 993 g.
~ Condition ~
The chapska is in very good condition for its age. The leather parts have some signs of age such as crackling are in good order. The woolen panelling is free from moth damage. The head band is worn to the front but has tight stitching. The silk liner is frayed to the front with a large split. The chin scales are complete with good stitching. The gilding is generally quite worn.
The tunic shows no signs of tearing but it only has one noticeable piece of damage which is photographed.
The trousers are in a similar condition. The top fly button is missing.
An excellent set.
