17th Duke of Cambridge's Own Lancers Officer's Czapka

17th Duke of Cambridge's Own Lancers Officer's Czapka

 

Seen here is a 17^th Lancers Officer’s czapka.  In 1822 the 17^th Light Dragoons became the 17^th Lancers at the request of the Duke of York who wanted regiments modeled after the successful Polish Lancers at the Battle of Waterloo.  Over the next 30 years the 17^th performed garrison duties in England and Ireland.  It was during this time that the 17^th gained the title Duke of Cambridge’s Own after the Duke became colonel of the regiment in 1842.  During the Crimean War the 17^th participated in the famous Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava.  The overall commander Lord Raglan had ordered the brigade to retake guns captured by the Russians from the Causeway Heights.  However the order was vague and confusion resulted in the brigade charging a Russian battery at the end of the valley.  Heavy casualties were inflicted in a battle that ended with no decisive gains.  The Russians inflicted heavy losses on the 17^th

with 38 of the 147 members who took part in the charge being able to answer roll call after the battle.  Lord Alfred Tennyson celebrated the efforts of the British cavalry in his poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade”.  The 17^th was later sent to India as reinforcements after the Indian Mutiny of 1857 and would stay in India for the next five years. During the Zulu War of 1879 the 17^th was sent to Africa as part of the British offensive that began in July that would forever break the Zulu Army.  In early 1900 the 17^th returned to South Africa to fight the Boers with the heaviest action seen at Modderfontein.  In 1922 the 17^th Lancers was aligned with the 21^st Lancers to form the 17^th/21^st Lancers.

One of the many museum quality European military headgear, uniforms, & medals in our upcoming premiere auction this September.

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