Uniforms of the 5th Royal Irish Lancers

As far as uniforms for the 5th Royal Irish Lancers, their 17th Century predescessors in Wynne's Dragoon Guards would have been dressed in the cavalry uniform of the day. At this time, they were classed as dragoons guards and as such, had abandoned the use of breast plates and instead wore highly decorated red coats, gauntlets, breeches and boots. Below is a depiction of a mounted dragoon of Wynnes Dragoon Guards complete with harp insingia on the horse blanket.


Trooper, 5th Regiment of Dragoons c.1751


Trooper, 5th (or Royal Irish) Regiment of Dragoons c.1762


Trooper, 5th (or Royal Irish) Regiment of Dragoons (Lancers) c.1859


Trooper, 5th (or Royal Irish) Lancers c. 1861


Trooper, 5th Royal Irish Lancers c.1903

Many European countries owe much of their cavalry uniform traditions to one country who during their turbulent history excelled on the battlefield as far as cavalry were concerned. This country was Poland. Their winged Hussars (even the word Hussar is Polish) who during the 17th century prevented the Ottoman Turks from dominating Europe set a tradition within Poland for fine cavalry formations.
During the Napolionic wars when the French were retreating from Russia, many French cavalrymen made themsleves look like Polish cavalry to avoid harrasment from the pursuing Russians who tended to give Polish cavalry formations a wide berth due to their formidible reputation.
This legacy was not lost on the British who adopted several terms and unfirom items that were distinclty Polish.
One of the most obvious examples of this was the red and white pennons used on British cavalry lances. This was a representation of the Polish national flag and was used by both British and American cavalry formations. The distinctive square topped cavalry helmet was based on the Polish "Chzapka" which was also used by the French.
When the 5th Royal Irish Dragoons were renamed and formed into a regiment of lancers, they wore the following items. A Blue kurtka tunic with red facings and a scarlet plastron (this was the buttoned segment on the chest) with gold buttons and epaulletes. Blue breeches with two gold stripes running down the sides were worn tucked into high black leather boots. Uniform accruements included a gold shoulder sash (worn from left-to-right) with central red stripe and a gold shoulder sash (right-to-left). A gold and red striped belt was worn around the waist, as well as white gauntlets. Headgear was the distinctive Polish style silver coloured czapska hat with a gold peak and a scarlet top. A distinctive green feather plume was worn at the front of the czapska which became synonymous with the 5th Royal Irish Lancers, the green reflecting the regiments Irish roots.
Their Lance pennon was red over white, borrowing a tradition from Polish cavalrymen. The theory was that this being the Polish national flag, appeared reversed to the holder but appeared correctly as the Polish national flag to the poor unfortunates being attacked! This pennon was similar to all other lancer regiments of the British Army who had adopted these colours.

A mounted officer of the 5th Royal Irish Lancers in review order uniform. This uniform typified the apearance of the 5th Lancers with the characteristic red plastron and green plume made from drooping swan feathers. The image is taken from a print by Harry Payne.

Full Dress uniform

5th Lancer Levee Dress c.1900

Helmet
The 5th RIL helmet based on the Polish “Chzapka” which was covered in black patent leather. The shakko plate was fitted to the front on a green velvet backing. This took various forms over the years but there were two types – one for officers and one for NCOs and other ranks. The chinstrap was in the form of a ¾ inch burnished chain, attached to a patent leather strip lined with velvet. This was affixed to the helmet by means of fasteners in the shape of a lions’ head. Green swans’ feathers were bunch into a stem and drooped to provide an instantly recognisable feature of lancer regiments. Green was synonymous with the 5th Lancers, Other lancer regiments plumes were as follows:

9th Lancers Black and white
12th Lancers Scarlet
16th Lancers Black
17th Lancers White
21st Lancers White

5th Royal Irish Lancer Officer's Czapka c.1880s
Below is a superb example of an officer's czapka helmet made by Caters of Pall Mall, London during the reign of Queen Victoria. The distictive shape of the helmet is taken from the Polish lancer cap of the Napoleonic wars, such was their influnce on the lancer regiments of the British Army. The helmet sports a red cloth trencher top with gold gimp cord, sewn in the shape of a cross on the crown. On the front, is a large gilt 5th Lancers shako plate with silver overlays. The distinguising features of the plate are the regiments name and the winged harp which was adopted by almost all of the Irish Regiments at the time. Also present is the Royal Coat of Arms, with the four battle honours won by the 5th Royal Irish Dragoons, during Marlborough's campaign in Flanders during the 18th Century. This dates the cap between 1860 and 1889. The most striking feature of this beautiful peice of craftsmanship is the famous green goose feathers which made up the plume on all 5th Lancer helmets. Below are four views of the helmet, three with the plume of feathers removed.
Shako Plate Below are four views of the shako plate. The detail on this is very crisp and displays the queen's crown, shamrocks and battle honours as well as the regiments name. Central to this is the winged harp which was adopted by most Irish regiments of the time.

 

Tunic, Trousers, Pantaloons and Boots
The tunic was double breasted and was manufactured from blue woollen cloth. The cuffs and plastron were coloured red, and gave rise to the regiment’s nickname of “The Redbreasts”. The plastron was fastened with seven brass buttons situated in rows either side of the chest. These buttons were situated 8 inches apart at the top and 4 inches at the waist displaying the regimental harp and crown with the motto “Quis Separabit” on a scroll underneath. Two buttons were hidden from view by the 2 ½ girdle worn around the waist. This girdle was made from gold lace with two stripes of crimson ribbon running parallel around its length. On the collar of the tunic, Regimental devices were attached, in the shape of a harp and crown manufactured from gilt or gilding metal.
The trousers were manufactured from similar blue woollen cloth material as was used on the jacket. Two ¾ inch yellow cloth stripes, spaced at an interval of ¼ inch was situated on the sides of both legs.
White leather gauntlets were worn on parade. High leather boots worn with this uniform were of black leather with box spurs attached.

Other Uniform Items
There were several accessories worn with the review order uniform, these included a cavalry pattern sword and scabbard, sword belt, sword slings of gold lace and sword knot of gold and crimson cord with “acorn”. A 2-inch wide shoulder belt of gold lace with crimson stripe was also worn diagonally from the left shoulder. A scarlet leather pouch was also sometimes worn, displaying the regimental emblem on the front.

Mess Dress

NCO 5th Lancers Mess Dress