Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. Always considered one of the most romantic styles of British Cavalry Helmets, is this, the Czapka. The word itself is Polish / Belorussian, and basically means "cap". This style is perhaps best known to English speakers as a word for the 19th-century Polish cavalry headgear, consisting of a high, four-pointed cap with regimental insignia on the front (full name in Polish: czapka rogatywka, initially: konfederatka) to which feathers or rosettes were sometimes added.
The helmet style was then adopted by various other European cavalry units, and even made its way to Great Britain, where it was used by the 12th Lancers, whose principal color was bright red.
Raised by BRIGADIER GENERAL PHINEAS BOWLES in July 1715 to face the threat of the Jacobite Rebellion, the 12th Lancers has become one of the most famous Cavalry Regiments in the British Army. Even the Duke of Wellington served as a Subaltern (Lieutenant) in the 12th Lancers between 1789 and 1791.
The Regiment saw service in Egypt in 1801, the Peninsula War 1809-1813 followed by Waterloo in 1815. It served in the Crimean War in the 1850s, the Boer War of 1899-1901, WWII and WWII where they served in France in 1940, evacuated at Dunkirk, went to Egypt, fought at El Alamein against Field Marshall Rommel and chased the Germans all the way up Italy by the end of the conflict. They actually retired the horses and moved to Armored Cars in 1928.
This helmet, built of hard leather, features a huge brass Helmet plate showing the multiple Battle honors of the 12th Lancers. These honors can be used to date its issue to just post 1902. It features brass interlocking ring chin scales backed by leather in really nice condition. The chinscales on this example are a bit loose and don’t rest on the visor too well, but this could be remedied. The liner is still present and in good shape. The plume is also still rully retained as is the cockade it rests on. The liner bears the size marking 6⅝.
A truly gorgeous example of the most colorful of Britain's Lancer Czapka Helmets. Comes ready for further research and display.
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