The Queens Royal Lancers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Belvoir Castle Museum Tour
   
Take a glimpse inside The Queen's Royal Lancers Regimental Museum, which is located inside Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire. If you would like to see more, we hope to welcome you to Belvoir soon! Two figures, in the uniforms of the 16th and 17th Lancers, stand guard at the entrance to the Museum.
   
Scarlet Uniform Jacket   The American War of Independence

An example of the scarlet uniform jacket worn by both the 16th and 17th Lancers in America during the War of Independence. It was because of this that British soldiers were known as 'redcoats'. The display also includes a flintlock carbine and pistol, both used by the 17th Lancers during the campaign, and both taking the same size lead ball.
     
Portrait Locket
   The Wars With France

A miniature portrait in a locket containing a lock of a soldier's hair, worn by his wife while he was abroad fighting Napoleon. Among other items in this display are rare Dresden and Royal Worcester porcelain statuettes depicting the blue uniform adopted during this period.
     
Helmet Plate, 17th Light Dragoons   Helmet Plate, 17th Light Dragoons

This badge was worn by a man who deserted in 1800! It shows the regimental badge in its original form: a death's head with crossed bones above and the motto 'Or Glory'. In its later form, still used by the regiment today, the crossed bones appear below the skull.
     
The Charge at Ulundi
  From Light Dragoons To Lancers

The 16th Lancers was the first regiment to use the lance in battle, and in the charge at Aliwal in 1846 the lance pennons were so encrusted with blood, that to this day the regiment keeps its pennons crimped in commemoration of that victory.

Click on image to enlarge
     
The Balaklava Bugle   The Balaklava Bugle

This copper bugle was blown by Trumpeter Billy Brittain to sound the Charge of the Light Brigade in 1854. He was seriously wounded and taken to Scutari Hospital where he was nursed by Florence Nightingale, but died of his wounds. The bugle was auctioned at Sotheby's in 1964, bought by the actor Laurence Harvey (who was hoping to star in a film of the Charge), and presented to the Museum live on the Ed Sullivan show.
     
Dress uniforms of the 21st and 5th Lancers
  

Full dress uniform jackets of the 21st Lancers and the 5th Lancers

The lance caps are known as chapskas, from the Polish for 'hat'. Lancer regiments were of Polish origin; they were copied by the French and used to great effect at Waterloo, where they so impressed the British, that soon a number of British regiments of Light Dragoons were remodelled to become Lancers.

Click on image to enlarge.
     
Dervish Djibbah   The Sudan Campaign

A multicoloured djibbah, worn by a Dervish warrior among those charged by the 21st Lancers. The display includes a lance used during the charge, and Dervish spears collected from the battlefield. Rather than throw their spears, many dervishes waited until the regiment reached them, then fell back on the ground and jabbed upwards to bring down the horses and the riders with them; other dervishes then attacked the dismounted men.
     
All that was left of them

   The Boer War

It was during the Boer War that the cavalry, now in khaki, first came up against guerrilla tactics; in response, lances and swords were replaced by rifles. But the Boers were better marksmen. The painting, 'All That Was Left Of Them', illustrates a scene at Modderfontein Farm, when a Squadron of 17th Lancers was surprised by a large Boer force and fought to the finish.

Click on image to enlarge.
     
'Death or Glory' Cigar Holder   The Silver Motto

A silver-mounted skull and crossed thighbones, representing the motto of the regiment - 'Death Or Glory' - and originally used as a cigar holder. The glittering selection of regimental silver on display includes statuettes of mounted and dismounted Lancers, candelabras, massive polo trophies, and the sister to the Wimbledon Ladies Trophy.
     
Boer War Chocolate Box   Everyday Life In Times Of War

This untouched box of Fry's chocolate was sent to a soldier fighting in the Boer War in 1900! In displays throughout the Museum, wherever possible we show not only the uniforms and weapons used, but also the personal, everyday items used by soldiers and their families at home.
     
The Battle at Fondouk   See the Video

A video accompanying our Second World War displays tells the story of the tank battle at the Fondouk Gap in 1943, using original film footage. Both the 16th/5th Lancers and the 17th/21st Lancers fought at Fondouk, making this the primary battle honour inherited by The Queen's Royal Lancers.
     
The Victoria Cross   Medals

Among the hundreds of orders, decorations and medals on display are Victoria Crosses won at Balaklava, Omdurman and during the Boer War and the Great War. Officers and men of our regiments have received a total of twelve VCs, all of them for rescuing wounded comrades from the battlefield.
     
Challanger Ammunition   The Regiment Today

High-explosive projectile and armour-piercing projectile as fired from main battle tanks; the armour-piercing projectile (right) has a central 'bullet' of tungsten carbide steel that can penetrate enemy armour ar long range. This display also includes a modelled scene of an exercise involving Challenger tanks and an armoured recovery vehicle, based on actual exercises the regiment undertakes in Germany, where it is currently based.
     
If this glimpse inside the Museum has caught your interest, and you would like to see more, please check our opening times and visit us at Belvoir Castle soon. We look forward to seeing you at The Queen's Royal Lancers Regimental Museum.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]