BRITISH 21ST LANCER OFFICERS CHAPSKA.

A most magnificent condition Chapska from the rarest of all of the line regiments of lancers of the British Army in the Victorian and early Edwardian period. The helmet was unique in its colours, the mortarboard top in light blue with two moth nips to the flat mortarboard top. All of the gilt lace and cording to the helmet is superb, two very tiny grazes to the black lacquered finish on the rabbit fur skull. The gilding of the huge size officers double constructed front plate with King’s Crown is magnificent. Complete with its correct gold bullion pompom, correct chin chain. One small area of darkness to the gilt on the lacework to the peak. Original velvet backing to the chin chain. Both of the lion’s head bosses to either side of the helmet perfect. To the interior the mid tan leather liner all intact showing evidence of wear use with its original interior red silk, which is gold blocked to the upper inner crown area ‘Sandilands & Company 12 Conduit Street, London’ and finally complete with its officers plume holder and white full dress swan feather plume. The regiment originally raised in Bengal in 1858 as the 3rd Bengal European Light Cavalry and then moved to the British Army in 1862 where it was designated as a Hussar Regiment. In 1897 it was re-designated as a Lancer Regiment becoming the last of the line regiments to be formed. It has one Battle Honour of Khartoum and within that Sudan Mahdist war it was the only British Cavalry Unit involved, it was there that the full regiment charged with lances in the classic cavalry style during the Battle of Omdurman in September 1898. Of less than 400 men involved in the charge 70 were killed and wounded, the regiment was awarded 3 Victoria Crosses. Winston Churchill then an officer of the 4th Hussars rode with the unit in the charge carrying his recently obtained 1896 model Mauser automatic pistol.