The 17th Lancers Display Team was formed in the spring of 1996, as part of The Troop – a multi-period, historical cavalry reconstruction group founded by New Zealander Alan Larsen. It consists of skilled cavalry enthusiasts with considerable experience in research, reconstruction and the presentation of mounted skill-at-arms displays.The Display Team’s aim is to provide the event-going public with an accurate reconstruction of late Victorian cavalry at it’s most impressive – and no Victorian regiment was more impressive or better known than the “Death or Glory Boys”.

Permission to reconstruct the 17th Lancers had been gained by The Troop in 1992, from Lieutenant Colonel Gordon of the then 17th/21st Lancers. The current Assistant Regimental Secretary, MajorHoltby, was able to offer further assistance in the form of a loan of full dress czapkas and tunics surplus to requirements following the regrettable amalgamation of the regimental band.

This loan, together with private investment by The Troop, enabled the Display Team to initially field four 1890s period mounted troopers in the striking last pattern full dress of the 17th. Progress in acquiring further saddlery and equipment soon led the team to regularly field six men and today that number has reached fourteen.