17TH LANCERS UNIFORM

Subject: 17TH LANCERS UNIFORM Sat May 28, 2016 3:02 pm

I have already posted a message in regard to completing an oil painting of the moment Frith of the 17th Lancers is shot dead by the zulus and already received lots of very good information regarding the terrain.

Now I'm specifically looking for any information in regards to how their uniforms would have looked on the day.

I've so far learned that the Lancer uniform was a little different compared to what they would've worn in a European War , i.e Foreign service helmet stained brown and that the Other ranks'wore their White Plastron fronts reversed.
I'm going to include Drury Lowe in the painting so any info on his uniform would be great.

I really appreciate any help whatsoever no matter how small.

Regards

die art

Posts : 1203 Join date : 2015-11-24

There's a few images knocking about..here's a couple.
1st.. John Young collection.

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Subject: Re: 17TH LANCERS UNIFORM Sat May 28, 2016 8:15 pm

Thank you John their great.

Posts : 1203 Join date : 2015-11-24

Here's Drury-Lowe about twenty years after the AZW.
but it will give you an indication of the bearing of the
man. here he is as a Lieut General and Colonel of
the 17th Lancers.

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Subject: Re: 17TH LANCERS UNIFORM Sun May 29, 2016 12:20 am

die art,

Here is an officer of the 17th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers wearing the regimental pattern patrol jacket:

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John Young Collection.

Here is a Private of the 17th (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Lancers wearing tunic with the white plastron showing:
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John Young Collection.

You will note the Lance-Cap or Czapka lines worn around the body.

Here's Alphonse de Neuville's image of a Corporal in 17th at the Battle of Ulundi:

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John Young Collection.

I will attempt to add an image of Drury Lowe tomorrow.

John Y.

Subject: Re: 17TH LANCERS UNIFORM Sun May 29, 2016 2:02 pm

I have a portrait photo of Drury Lowe but do you have or know of any pictures of the uniform he would have been wearing that day? Was he a Colonel by then?

Subject: Re: 17TH LANCERS UNIFORM Sun May 29, 2016 2:37 pm

die art,

I take it that you have seen the engraving based on Melton Prior's sketch? Drury Lowe is shown in that as wearing his tunic with the plastron reversed. He is also depicted as wearing a beard. As you have a portrait photograph of him do you already have hair and eye colour, or do you want me to supply that?

He had held the rank of Colonel since 15th June 1871, until he retired on Half-Pay on 14th September 1878.

As a full Colonel he would have worn a Crown & Star as his insignia of rank.

As a Field Officer he would have worn lace round the bottom of his white collar, and a second line of lace round the top of his cuff.

John Y.

Subject: Re: 17TH LANCERS UNIFORM Sun May 29, 2016 4:47 pm

A colour lithograph of Drury Curzon Drury Lowe circa 1879.

Note the detail of the rank insignia and its colour. So many illustrators manage to get that wrong.

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Colonel Drury Curzon Drury Lowe, Half-Pay, formerly of the 17th Lancers.
(John Young Collection.

Sorry I haven't had the opportunity to mount the print and thereby lose the creases.

John Y.

Subject: Re: 17TH LANCERS UNIFORM Sun May 29, 2016 8:35 pm

Unfortunately I don't have the engraving of Melton Prior's sketch Do you think I should depict him as wearing a beard and his tunic with the plastron reversed (i.e Blue not white showing) as per sketch? The only portrait photograph I have of him is in black & white so I don't know what is hair and eye colour would have been.