Original British Pre – WWI 12th Prince of Wales’s Royal Lancers Officers’ Uniform Coat Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available.The 12th (Prince of Wales’s) Royal Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army first formed in 1715. It saw service for three centuries, including the First World War and the Second World War. The regiment survived the immediate post-war reduction in forces, but was slated for reduction in the 1957 Defence White Paper, and was amalgamated with the 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers to form the 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales’s) in 1960.

In 1881 the tunics of Lancer officers was virtually unchanged from 1874. The collar, cuffs, lapels and piping were of facing color and for the six regiments existing in1902, the distinctions were as follows for the 12th Lancers; Tunic is Dark Blue with Facings Scarlet.

In the 1883 and 1891 Dress Regulations describe the tunic front (sometimes called the Plastron) was to be buttoned back (Showing the facing color) but allowing for it to be buttoned over on the march or in inclement weather. There is little photographic evidence of officers buttoning lapels after 1881 although the 17th Lancers may have during the Zulu War. (There are photos of other ranks doing so). In the 1900 regulations there was no mention of it. The tunic had two rows of buttons, seven on each side including one by the collar which were 8 inches apart at the top and 4 at the waist. A flat button on each side was under the girdle. For Captains and Lieutenants, the collar was edged with one inch lace of regimental pattern on the top and front and on the pointed cuffs extending to 8 ½ inches at the top. For field officers there was an additional row on the bottom edge of the collar and two above the pointed cuffs. The piping in facing color went down the back seams and sleeves of the tunic and around the skirts. The skirts had a three pointed flap on the back edged with a gold cord with three buttons on the flap and two at the waist. The shoulder cords were of bright gold wire lined with scarlet in the 16th Lancers and blue in the other regiments.

The buttons were listed as “Regimental pattern” in the dress regulations before 1900 when they were described in detail. Original examples seem to show that there was little or no variation between 1881 and 1900 (except with 21st Lancers). The 1900 description for the 12th Lancers is as follows: Scalloped edge; “12” resting on crossed lances surmounted by a crown.

The uniform is in lovely condition considering the age. The interior lining does have a significant amount of damage and sections missing but it does not subtract from the beauty. All buttons are the correct 12th Lancers buttons and the lace on the color is also correct for the regiment.

Comes ready for further research and display.

Approximate Measurements
Collar to shoulder: 10”
Shoulder to sleeve:25 ”
Shoulder to shoulder: 16”
Chest width: 18.5”
Waist width: 16”
Hip width: 18”
Front length:29 “