Help to identify a uniform please. A Lancer?

[coppernob]

Im trying to identify the person in this portrait and the starting point is to find out which regiment he was in. Ive done as much research as I can online but there is so much detail I've got confused. This is what Ive found out so far. I think it has been painted in about 1870. His forage cap is that of a Lancer's officer (but not of the 16th as they wore red ones?). His coat is an officers patrol jacket and could be of Queens Dragoon Guards?
Also whats the difference between a Lancer and a Hussar. Im happy to be corrected on anything!
Thank you for your help.

[FROGSMILE]

Im trying to identify the person in this portrait and the starting point is to find out which regiment he was in. Ive done as much research as I can online but there is so much detail I've got confused. This is what Ive found out so far. I think it has been painted in about 1870. His forage cap is that of a Lancer's officer (but not of the 16th as they wore red ones?). His coat is an officers patrol jacket and could be of Queens Dragoon Guards?
Also whats the difference between a Lancer and a Hussar. Im happy to be corrected on anything!
Thank you for your help.

I would date this image to around 1870 from the uniform and hair style. He is definitely a Lancer from the forage cap with its crossed gold gimping. Under his frock coat he appears to have a scarlet mess vest, which was normal for wear under either, a frock coat, or a patrol jacket. The 5th, 9th and 12th Lancers all had a scarlet mess vest but the 12th wore a scarlet forage cap. He could therefore be either 5th or 9th. On balance I would plump for the 9th as they were very attached to the blue tops to their caps. The 5th eventually changed theirs to scarlet.

[coppernob]

I had given up hope of a reply, so thank you so much! Really helpful information which Im sure will be a big step towards identifying the sitter.

[FROGSMILE]

I had given up hope of a reply, so thank you so much! Really helpful information which Im sure will be a big step towards identifying the sitter.

I am glad to help. Apart from the distinctive Lancer pattern forage cap, I think a key aspect is the roll collared frock coat. The pattern of this type of coat seems to have changed for Lancers not long after the sitter was painted, as by the late 1870s, all of the line cavalry seem to have adopted a different, closed type collar on that garment, leaving only the specialists such as medical and veterinary branch with the roll type collar that your man is wearing. I would be interested to learn what forum member Isandlwana thinks, as this image is the one that made me think, mistakenly, that the cavalry were wearing a roll collar as late as 1881