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United Kingdom: Lance Pennons and Guidons

by T.F. Mills

Description of the pennons

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Description of the Pennons

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 w