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Last modified: 2004-06-12 by rob raeside
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![[Lance Pennons]](../images/g/gb-lance.gif)
by T.F. Mills
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The Polish lancers, who inspired a tactical and fashion fad throughout
Europe, carried pennons in a variety of regimental colours. Napoleon was
impressed with the Polish guard of honour upon his entrance into Warsaw in 1806,
and he formed a Polish cavalry regiment in his Imperial Guard in 1807. They
received lances, complete with red-over-white pennons, in 1809 -- about the same
time Napoleon made himself Grand Duke of Warsaw. The 1er Chevaulegers Lanciers
of the Imperial Guard wore Polish uniforms, including the chapka (Polish
national military headgear, which survives in a soft version in the Polish Army
today), decorated with a French cockade. Variations of the chapka became
"lancer caps" -- mostly notably in the British and German armies.
The British met the Polish lancers in the Peninsular and Waterloo campaigns, and
were impressed by the extended (and deadly) reach that the lances afforded. The
British first converted some light cavalry to lancers in 1816 -- also with
red-over-white pennons. Contrary to popular depictions, pennons were almost
always furled when in action. The 16th Lancers developed an interesting
tradition stemming from the 1846 battle of Aliwal in the 1st Sikh War. Their
pennons became so encrusted with blood that they appeared to have been starched
and crimped. Thereafter the regiment crimped their pennons for parades. This
tradition is carried on by honour guards of the Queen's Royal Lancers (who wear
the 1914 full dress of its four predecessor regiments).
From 1816 the British lancers were issued at least seven different patterns of
lances after that, and at least three patterns of pennons (but all red over
white).
A) pennon used with the first two issues of lances (1816 and 1820). The eyelets
of the pennon slipped onto studs and were fastened with a metal bar that hooked
onto the studs.
Not illustrated are one or more pennons that would have been issued with the
lances of 1840 and 1846. The latter lance was the type used in the Crimea
(charge of the Light Brigade), and the pennon at that time was 16x27 inches, but
I do not know for certain the relative proportions of the swallow tail.
Photographs and reliable paintings suggest it was probably pennon pattern B.
B) Pennon issued with the lances of 1860 and 1868. It was fastened with thongs.
C) Pennon in use ca. 1914 to present. It is fastened with laces.
Lances and
pennons are still used ceremonially by the two remaining lancer regiments in the
British Army. In addition, the two regiments of Household Cavalry carry lances
for an annual Musical Ride in Hyde Park (similar to the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police), but they never carried lances in battle.
T.F. Mills, 10 March 2004
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