2 Victorian Lances

Jim McDougall · 1st November 2017, 05:19 PM

Thank you Ibrahiim,
It really is interesting to see how 'tent pegging' was used to increase skills with these weapons. While it seems that all manner of study of martial arts, fencing and exercise with swords is readily acceptable in discussions on those and various other edged weapons...the lance was apparently so disdained that it is deemed a reprehensible topic.

Yet lancer regiments were typically regarded in elite status, and the British cavalry after Waterloo chose to fashion select cavalry units to lancers, in honor and admiration of the Polish lancers in those campaigns. The red and white pennons on British lances were chosen in commemoration of the Polish national colors, also on their lances.

I recently watched the wonderful 1930s classic movie "Lives of a Bengal Lancer" with Gary Cooper starring. It is situated in the Northwest Frontier about a British lancers unit, and shows the elite status of these units and the pride they took in their skills with the lance. There were some great scenes of this tent pegging exercise. It is notable that these units were actually still in service in India at the time this movie was made.

British cavalrymen also hunted with lances after wild pigs, and these were somewhat shorter with heavy lead bulbs at the base.

It is interesting to note these kinds of variations which reveal the actual use intended, and how to identify which units might have carried the lances discussed. Sometimes the history associated with weapons may not be entirely P.C. however it remains just what it is, history.

kronckew · 1st November 2017, 05:36 PM

not PC, but i always like watching 'gunga din - 1939', especially the final battle scene at the temple. they do show in a a relatively non-gory way, the use of the lance in pursuit of a fleeing enemy (as well as the two gatlings carried on elephant back. my favourite part

). sam jaffee as gunga din is not acceptable in these days...

Jim McDougall · 2nd November 2017, 09:14 PM

Right on Wayne!!
"Gunga Din" was always one of my favorites too! and I cannot even count the times I watched it since I was a kid (was???).
One time (pre DVDs etc) and it was on late one night on TV and I wanted my wife to watch it with me...she said OK, but this time NO PITH HELMET!! Youre scarin' the cats!!!

Definitely no PCin those days, but the movies were fun.

kronckew · 3rd November 2017, 08:22 AM

a remake might be cool, if they didn't us cgi. the PC luvvies would likely mess it all up tho. especially reading the poem at the end. they'd rewrite kipling and add a few dance scenes. and using real extras would drive up the costs...hard to find a trio that would match, let alone a good ugly gunga din.

(wear your pith helmet next time. the cats will get used to it.)

1st November 2017, 05:19 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,189	Thank you Ibrahiim, It really is interesting to see how 'tent pegging' was used to increase skills with these weapons. While it seems that all manner of study of martial arts, fencing and exercise with swords is readily acceptable in discussions on those and various other edged weapons...the lance was apparently so disdained that it is deemed a reprehensible topic. Yet lancer regiments were typically regarded in elite status, and the British cavalry after Waterloo chose to fashion select cavalry units to lancers, in honor and admiration of the Polish lancers in those campaigns. The red and white pennons on British lances were chosen in commemoration of the Polish national colors, also on their lances. I recently watched the wonderful 1930s classic movie "Lives of a Bengal Lancer" with Gary Cooper starring. It is situated in the Northwest Frontier about a British lancers unit, and shows the elite status of these units and the pride they took in their skills with the lance. There were some great scenes of this tent pegging exercise. It is notable that these units were actually still in service in India at the time this movie was made. British cavalrymen also hunted with lances after wild pigs, and these were somewhat shorter with heavy lead bulbs at the base. It is interesting to note these kinds of variations which reveal the actual use intended, and how to identify which units might have carried the lances discussed. Sometimes the history associated with weapons may not be entirely P.C. however it remains just what it is, history.

1st November 2017, 05:36 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	not PC, but i always like watching 'gunga din - 1939', especially the final battle scene at the temple. they do show in a a relatively non-gory way, the use of the lance in pursuit of a fleeing enemy (as well as the two gatlings carried on elephant back. my favourite part ). sam jaffee as gunga din is not acceptable in these days...

2nd November 2017, 09:14 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,189	Right on Wayne!! "Gunga Din" was always one of my favorites too! and I cannot even count the times I watched it since I was a kid (was???). One time (pre DVDs etc) and it was on late one night on TV and I wanted my wife to watch it with me...she said OK, but this time NO PITH HELMET!! Youre scarin' the cats!!! Definitely no PCin those days, but the movies were fun.

3rd November 2017, 08:22 AM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	a remake might be cool, if they didn't us cgi. the PC luvvies would likely mess it all up tho. especially reading the poem at the end. they'd rewrite kipling and add a few dance scenes. and using real extras would drive up the costs...hard to find a trio that would match, let alone a good ugly gunga din. (wear your pith helmet next time. the cats will get used to it.)