Mounted Officer c1865

The date of this painting is not known but the white horsehair plume on this officer’s lance cap, or czapska, puts the date between 1859 and 1869. Before 1859 the 17th had white cocktail feathers and in 1869 the white horsehair was changed to black. In 1874 they changed to black cocktail feathers. The tunic is dark blue with a white half plastron. This was formed from the lapel being folded back above the fourth button from the top. It could be closed over in marching order. The white collar is edged with gold lace and has his badge of rank, but the badge is not clear in this painting. The dark blue trousers have a double white stripe and leathered ankles for mounted wear, unleathered for dismounted duty. The horse furniture consists of an embroidered shabraque which has an edging of double gold lace. The black sheepskin saddle cover has a white scalloped edge. The sabretache is plain black leather with a silver metal deaths head badge. It is suspended on three gold laced slings attached to a concealed waist-belt.
This painting was published in the Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research no. 181 (Spring 1967) and accompanied by an article by Major A McK Annand. The original at that time hung in the officer’s mess of the 17th/21st Lancers. It was painted by Henry Barraud (1812 - 1874) and measures 26 x 36 inches.

17th Lancers: Uniforms | Regimental details